Khalil Mack Returns for 2026
Veteran linebacker Khalil Mack will return for the 2026 season after considering retirement. Mack is expected to explore all free agency options, making him one of the most sought-after defensive players this offseason. The decision comes after extensive deliberation about his future in the NFL.
At 35 years old, Khalil Mack heads into free agency for the first time in his illustrious career, which began as the fifth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Over his 11 seasons with the Raiders, Bears, and Chargers, he has amassed over $187 million in career earnings. A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Mack was also the 2016 AP Defensive Player of the Year. His decorated career includes being named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Team for the 2010s. Mack is coming off a 2025 season where he played in 12 games, recording 5.5 sacks. This followed a dominant 2023 campaign in which he set a career-high and franchise record with 17 sacks for the Chargers. He finished the 2025 season on a one-year, $18 million fully guaranteed contract with the Chargers. Projections for his 2026 contract suggest a potential one-year deal in the range of $12 million. Mack hits the market as one of the top veteran edge rushers available. Other notable pass rushers in the 2026 free agent class include Trey Hendrickson and Jadeveon Clowney. Several teams entered the offseason with a pressing need for pass-rushing help, including the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, and Miami Dolphins. The Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals have also been identified as teams that could look to bolster their defensive front.
