Khalil Mack Confirms His Return to the Chargers: “It Was an Obvious Decision”
Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack has confirmed that his return to the team was an “obvious decision.” Mack, who considered retirement and explored other options as a free agent in the offseason, spoke after the Chargers’ minicamp on Wednesday.
Why not here, man?
Khalil Mack
Although Mack, 34, claimed that staying in Los Angeles was easy, he admitted to having considered other options. Ultimately, the decision to return to the Chargers made more sense, beyond finances, in his own words.
Mack signed a one-year contract for 18 million dollars fully guaranteed. “I had to be fair in my approach and not just do it for the finances and all the different things,” Mack said. “I tried to make it more about winning games.”
Mack, winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award (2016) and one of the most decorated outside linebackers in NFL history, hasn’t had much team success, losing all five playoff appearances of his career. The most recent defeat was last season in the Chargers’ 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans in the wild card round.
Mack mentioned that his playoff record and the pursuit of a championship drove him to return for his twelfth season. “I just don’t want to give up on that goal and that ambition that I’ve had since I entered the league,” Mack said. “I knew I wanted to play in important games and win a Super Bowl.”Khalil Mack firmó un contrato de un año para quedarse con los Chargers para la temporada 2025-26.In 2024, Mack had a decrease in his production with the Chargers, finishing with six sacks, tied for the second-lowest total of his career. However, the decrease was likely related to injuries. Mack suffered strains in both groins in Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns. He missed a game against the Cincinnati Bengals due to the injury and played only 30 snaps in two other games while managing it.
Even so, Mack led all Chargers players with a 13% pass rush win rate en route to his ninth Pro Bowl. He was a bright spot in Los Angeles’ playoff loss to the Houston Texans, finishing with two sacks and five quarterback pressures.
“Man, it means everything,” defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said about having Mack back. “Khalil is one of the best to ever do it, but really the type of person he is, the type of leadership he brings.”
“I have a great appreciation for how he operates. I learn things from him every day.”
Mack returns to the Chargers for his fourth season, but the first without his outside linebacker partner Joey Bosa, who was released and signed with the Buffalo Bills. Even so, the Chargers have third-year outside linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, who led the team with 8.5 sacks last season, and veteran Bud Dupree.
Mack expects a great year from Tuipulotu.
“He’s been an essential star essentially for the last three years, so I don’t think it’ll be any different,” Mack said about Tuipulotu. “Just knowing how he’s approaching the game this year, how detailed he is and the technique in everything. It won’t be any surprise to me when he’s a 10, 12 or more catch guy.”
