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Kris Rhim
El SEGUNDO, Calif — Los Angeles Chargers exterior linebacker Khalil Mack, who mulled retirement and regarded different groups as a free agent within the offseason, stated Wednesday that re-signing with the group was a “no-brainer.”
“Why not right here, man?” Mack stated talking after Chargers minicamp on Wednesday.
Whereas Mack, 34, stated the choice to remain in L.A. was straightforward, he admitted to different choices. Finally, the choice to return to the Chargers made essentially the most sense past simply the cash, he stated.
“I needed to be honest within the strategy to issues and never making it about simply funds and all of the various things,” stated Mack, who signed a one-year, $18 million totally assured contract. “I attempted to make it extra so nearly profitable ball video games.”
Mack, a Defensive Participant of the Yr winner (2016) and some of the adorned exterior linebackers in NFL historical past, has had little group success. He has misplaced all 5 playoff appearances in his profession. The latest loss got here final season within the Charger’s 32-12 wild-card spherical defeat to the Houston Texans.
Mack stated that his playoff document and pursuit of a championship is what introduced him again for his twelfth season.
“Simply not wanting to surrender on that aim and that ambition that I’ve ever since I stepped into the league,” Mack stated. “I knew I wished to play in essential video games and win a Tremendous Bowl.”
Mack had a dip in manufacturing in 2024 for the Chargers, ending with six sacks, tied for the second-lowest complete of his profession. Nonetheless, the dip was seemingly associated to accidents. Mack strained each groins in Week 9 towards the Cleveland Browns. He missed one recreation towards the Cincinnati Bengals due to the damage and performed simply 30 snaps over two others whereas managing it.
Nonetheless, Mack led all Chargers gamers with a 13% cross rush win price en path to his ninth Professional Bowl. He was a vibrant spot in Los Angeles’ playoff loss to the Houston Texans, ending with two sacks and 5 quarterback pressures.
“Man, it means every little thing,” Defensive coordinator Jesse Minter stated of getting Mack again. “Khalil is likely one of the greatest ever do it, however actually simply the kind of individual he’s, the kind of management that he brings.
“I’ve nice appreciation for a way he operates. I take issues from him every single day.”
Mack returns to the Chargers for his fourth season however his first with out fellow exterior linebacker Joey Bosa, who was launched and signed with the Buffalo Payments. Nonetheless, the Chargers have third-year exterior linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu, who led the group with 8.5 sacks final season, and veteran Bud Dupree.
Mack is anticipating an enormous 12 months from Tuipulotu.
“He is been a star basically for the previous three years, so I do not assume it may be any completely different,” Mack stated of Tuipulotu. “Simply figuring out how he is approaching the sport this 12 months, simply how detailed he’s and method every little thing. It isn’t going to be no shock to me when he is a ten, 12-plus sack man.”
