Khalil Mack will continue to be a nuisance for opposing quarterbacks for at least another season.
The Chargers edge rusher agreed to a contract extension with the team Saturday, a person with knowledge of the deal not authorized to speak publicly told The Times. The deal is for one season and pays out $18 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports.
In 12 games last season, Mack, 35, had 5½ sacks and 32 tackles, playing a key role alongside Tuli Tuipulotu and Odafe Oweh in spearheading the Chargers’ pass rush.
Since joining the Chargers via a trade with the Chicago Bears in March 2022, Mack has recorded 36½ sacks and established himself as one of the leaders on defense for the Chargers. The three-time All-Pro missed five games with a left elbow injury early in the season, but he was still a force on defense for the Chargers — even when his sack totals were at their lowest mark since his 2014 rookie season.
If Mack’s decision seems familiar, that’s because it is. Last year, he didn’t re-sign with the Chargers until just before the start of free agency as he mulled whether to return or retire. He was persuaded with a one-year, $18-million deal similar to the one he agreed to on Saturday.
Mack is a proven Hall of Fame-caliber pass rusher, but he still hasn’t been part of a playoff win. He’s 0-6 in the playoffs and the Chargers’ disheartening loss to the New England Patriots in the wild-card playoffs probably gave him plenty of reasons to think about his future.
With Mack under contract, re-signing Oweh becomes a clear priority for Chargers general manager Joe Horitz ahead of the free-agent negotiation period beginning Monday. Oweh had a breakout season in the aftermath of his midseason trade from Baltimore and is considered one of the top defensive players set to be available in free agency.
Staff writer Sam Farmer contributed to this report.
