Bears Consider Reunion With Khalil Mack Before Trade Deadline

The Chicago Bears could pursue veteran pass rusher Khalil Mack before the November 10, 2026, NFL trade deadline as the Los Angeles Chargers struggle through an 0-4 start. According to The Athletic's Jonathan Jones, a reunion could benefit Chicago's defense while giving Los Angeles an opportunity to acquire draft capital for a player approaching free agency.

The Bears entered the October 10 reports with a 3-1 record, while Mack's Chargers had yet to win a game. NBC Sports and Bleacher Report identified Chicago as a potential destination for the 35-year-old defender, whose three sacks in four games demonstrate that he remains productive despite his age.

Mack has recorded three sacks and 14 tackles through four games, according to CBS Sports and Bleacher Report. CBS Sports also reported that he had generated 13 quarterback pressures, adding evidence of his continued effectiveness as an edge rusher.

Financial considerations could make a deal manageable for Chicago. Mack's base salary for 2026 is $8 million, the final year of his current contract, with $5.77 million remaining after the week of October 10, according to NBC Sports. The Bears had approximately $9 million in salary-cap space available, leaving them with room to consider the acquisition.

Jonathan Jones reported that multiple league sources viewed a trade between the Chargers and Bears as a logical possibility if both teams continued along their current paths. Two front-office executives cited by Bleacher Report suggested that Mack could be acquired for a fifth-round draft pick.

Chicago possesses Atlanta's fifth-round selection following the trade involving Gervon Dexter Sr., according to Bleacher Report. That pick could provide a potential route to completing a deal without surrendering the premium draft capital the Bears previously used to acquire Mack.

The proposed reunion would bring Mack back to the franchise where he played from 2018 through 2021. Chicago originally acquired him in 2018 by sending two first-round picks, a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick to his former team, according to NBC Sports. His return would likely require a substantially smaller package given his age and expiring contract.

Chicago's pass rush is not its most pressing weakness. CBS Sports reported that Montez Sweat, Austin Booker and Dayo Odeyingbo form part of the Bears' existing edge group, with Odeyingbo leading the team with three sacks at the time of its October 6 report.

Bleacher Report also noted that Chicago ranked among the NFL's top five teams in yards and points allowed. Adding Mack could nevertheless provide defensive coordinator Dennis Allen with another experienced option, potentially allowing Mack to line up opposite Sweat or contribute in a rotational role alongside Sweat and Odeyingbo.

Los Angeles faces a different calculation. CBS Sports reported that the Chargers entered October after consecutive 11-6 seasons but opened the 2026 campaign with four straight losses, their first 0-4 start since 2017. The team's offensive struggles added pressure to a season that had begun with considerably higher expectations.

According to CBS Sports, the Chargers averaged 16.8 points and 306.8 total yards per game in the early season. Quarterback Justin Herbert had completed 59.7% of his passes for 204.0 passing yards per game, with four touchdowns and six interceptions.

General manager Joe Hortiz could explore trades involving veteran players if the team's results do not improve, CBS Sports reported. Mack's contract situation makes him a potential trade candidate, although the compensation Los Angeles could receive would depend on market interest and the terms of any agreement.

San Francisco also emerged as a possible destination in the broader trade discussion. The New York Times identified Mack among several defensive linemen the 49ers could consider as they addressed injuries and limited pass-rushing production.

The New York Times reported that San Francisco was on pace for 25.5 sacks after recording no sacks in its game the previous Sunday. The team had six sacks at the time of CBS Sports' October 6 report, while injuries had sidelined key defenders Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams.

For Chicago, the immediate question is whether the potential defensive upgrade justifies the remaining salary and draft compensation. The NFL trade deadline is scheduled for November 10, leaving the Bears and Chargers time to assess their respective seasons before deciding whether a deal makes sense.