The Bears have given themselves something to feel good about on offense after Caleb Williams’ strong return against the Atlanta Falcons. But if Chicago is serious about making a run this season, the pass rush still looks like the spot that could use help before the NFL trade deadline.
Two former NFL players think they know the fix: bring Khalil Mack back to Chicago.
On the October 20th episode of CBS Sports' Set, Hut!, former Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long and quarterback Russell Wilson talked through Chicago’s need for another edge presence, and Long went straight to the name that still carries weight in the building.
"The one guy who I played with in Chicago in 2018 who changed the entire course of our season was Khalil Mack," Long said.
Mack is currently with the Los Angeles Chargers and is tied to a one-year, $18 million contract for the 2026 season. Long acknowledged that Mack is nearing the end of his career, but he still sees a player who can matter.
His case wasn’t just about what Mack does on Sundays, either. Long pointed to the way Mack altered the mood around the team when he first arrived in 2018, giving the Bears a defensive centerpiece and raising the level of everyone around him. He also singled out Mack’s preparation, describing him as the kind of veteran who sets the tone in the weight room and comes to work with the same approach every week.
That sort of presence would fit a defense that has improved, but still has a clear hole to fill. Kyler Gordon’s return to the lineup has helped, yet leaning on blitzes and defensive backs to create pressure is not the cleanest long-term answer. A player like Mack would give defensive coordinator Dennis Allen another proven weapon and ease the burden of having to manufacture pressure snap after snap.
Wilson backed the idea just as hard. He said he had spent time around Mack at the Pro Bowl and spoke to the impact he can have in a locker room.
"I think he would be a tremendous person to go get," Wilson said.
His point was simple: if the Bears believe they can contend for a championship this season, they may need to be aggressive instead of waiting for the ideal move to present itself.
That’s the tension for Chicago. The organization has already put significant resources into Caleb Williams and into building the offense under head coach Ben Johnson, and the showing against Atlanta only reinforced how dangerous that side of the ball can be.
At the same time, the defense still has questions, even with Gordon’s three-sack performance against the Falcons. That kind of production from a cornerback is a jolt, not a weekly expectation.
Mack wouldn’t be asked to fix everything. He would be brought in as an established edge rusher who knows the organization and has already proved what he can do in Chicago.
Of course, there’s a big gap between wanting Mack and actually getting him. The Chargers would have to be willing to deal him, and the Bears would have to decide whether the price makes sense for a veteran on a one-year deal. There’s also the obvious question of how much remains in the tank.
No one should expect the same Mack who arrived in Chicago eight years ago and instantly helped turn the Bears into one of the league’s most feared defenses.
Even so, Long and Wilson weren’t talking about a player who needs to carry the whole unit. They were talking about adding another experienced pass rusher to a team that believes it can compete right now.
For Bears fans, the idea of Mack coming back would bring back plenty of memories. Whether the front office feels the same way is another matter. For now, it’s just a suggestion from two former players, but with the deadline closing in, Chicago has a real reason to look hard at its pass rush.
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