The possibility of bringing back star defensive end Khalil Mack is intriguing for the Bears heading toward the Nov. 10 trade deadline, but the Chargers haven’t shown an inclination to unload him despite their 0-7 start.
When asked Monday whether Mack got any say in whether the team would trade him to a contender or keep him, coach Jim Harbaugh shot down the idea altogether.
“I want Khalil Mack here,” he said. “Khalil Mack wants to be here. He’s one of the pillars of our team.”
Harbaugh also was asked about planning for the future in general now that this season is almost lost and replied, “I’m focused on getting it turned, forging ahead and really striving in every way to play winning football.”
Mack has three sacks in seven games, following 5 1/2 last season. At 35 and on an expiring contract, he’d likely be available at a relatively affordable price in terms of draft capital.
The Bears won’t want to give up anything valuable after trading two first-round picks to the Titans last week for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. General manager Ryan Poles said he would continue monitoring potential trades, but, “I'd like to think that whole process will slow down just a little bit.”
Former Bears general manager Ryan Pace traded two first-round picks for Mack ahead of the 2018 season, and he was the star of their defense for four seasons. He had 36 sacks in 53 regular-season games, but was coming off a foot injury when Poles took the job in 2022. Poles dealt him to the Chargers for a second-round pick and salary-cap relief.
