Khalil Mack

At 33 years old, Khalil Mack has this physical status:

Khalil Delshon Mack (born February 22, 1991) is an American football outside linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL).

He played college football at Buffalo, and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders with the fifth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Mack holds the all-time NCAA record for forced fumbles and is also tied for career tackles for loss in the NCAA.

In 2015, he became the first player in NFL history to be selected first-team All-Pro at two different positions (unanimous selection at defensive end and consensus selection at outside linebacker) by the Associated Press (AP), the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), and the Sporting News (SN) for performance in the same season. In September 2018, Mack was traded to the Bears for two first-round draft picks and signed a six-year, $141 million extension, becoming the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.

He is widely recognized as one of the most dominant defensive players currently playing in the NFL.

Early life

Mack was raised by his parents: high school sweethearts Yolanda, a teacher, and Sandy Mack Sr., a program specialist, in Fort Pierce, Florida. He has two brothers, Sandy, Jr. and LeDarius. His father introduced him to sports at the age of five. Mack took an early liking to baseball and basketball although he played Pop Warner football.

Mack attended Fort Pierce Westwood High School in Fort Pierce. He had played quarterback and was nicknamed "Bombshell Man." However, throwing the ball short was a major struggle for Mack so he became a linebacker. For the rest of his athletic career, he had been relying on basketball to get him a college scholarship but his plans were dashed by a tear in his patella tendon before his sophomore season. After this injury, his high school football coach, Waides Ashmon, recruited him to the sport, promising Mack and his parents that it would earn him a scholarship.

In his only year of high school football, Mack had 140 tackles, including eight for a loss, and nine sacks. He was named third-team All-State in Florida, as well as first-team All-Area, and helped lead the Panthers to a district championship. Being a newcomer to the sport, he was rated as only a two-star recruit by Rivals.com. He received a scholarship from the State University of New York at Buffalo to play Division I football.

Personal life

Mack taught himself to play guitar as a freshman at the University at Buffalo. His reputation as a singer led his Raiders teammates to attempt to goad him into singing R. Kelly and Usher songs. He is a fan of musicians Tim McGraw and Hanson.

Mack is an active Christian and spent much of his youth attending a church where his father and mother both served as deacons.

In 2017, Mack's younger brother LeDarius joined his alma mater, the University at Buffalo, after two years at ASA College in Miami. LeDarius joined his brother on the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2020, and was later signed to the practice squad.

Source

College career

Mack came out of the redshirting squad as a freshman and was one of the more effective defenders in the league. He had 68 tackles, including 14+1 2 for injury, 4+12 for kicks, ten pass breakups, eight quarterback hurries, and two force fumbles. He received third-team all-conference awards for his third year. He wore the uniform number 46 as a reminder that his true potential was not being acknowledged – out of a maximum of 99) in EA Sports' college football video game, NCAA Football 11.

Mack continued where he left off in 2010 with a strong sophomore campaign. On the way to be named first-team All-MAC, Mack led the team in sackings, tackles for loss, and compelled fumbles. He had 64 total tackles, including 20+12 for loss (third best in the United States), 5+12 sacks, one intercept, two pass breakups, thirteen quarterback hurries, and five forced fumbles. Despite being suspended for the first game of the season following an altercation with colleague wide receiver Fred Lee, Mack set career highs in tackles (94), tackles for loss (21th in the country), and sacks (8). He also had two pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, and four forced fumbles. For the second straight season, he received first-team all-conference recognition.

Mack started all 13 games with 19 tackles, 10.5 sacks, three interceptions, three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, and three interceptions, as well as five interceptions, which culminated in five fumbles. He earned the CFPA Linebacker Trophy for the 2013 season, becoming the first Bull to win the award in Buffalo's history (1999-present). The Associated Press also named him as a second-team All-American. Mack finished first in career tackles for loss with 75 and set a new record for forced fumbles with 16. Mack was also ranked by Buffalo's independent student newspaper The Spectrum as the best Buffalo football player in the Division I history of the game.

Professional career

Mack was drafted as a top first-round pick in several mock drafts leading up to the 2014 NFL Draft. He was the first overall pick by the Oakland Raiders, making him the first selected Buffalo player ever, and the first (and only) selected in the first round. Previously, defensive tackle Gerry Philbin, who was selected with the 33rd overall pick by the New York Jets in 1964, was the top selected player from Buffalo. Mack converted from his college uniform number, 46, to 52 in order to comply with the NFL's numbering rules.

Mack made his NFL debut against the New York Jets in the season-opener, recording six tackles in the 19–14 loss after signing a four-year deal worth $18.67 million guaranteed. During Week 7 against the Arizona Cardinals, he made a season-high 11 tackles in the 24-13 loss. Mack had 5 tackles and his first sack on Philip Rivers during Week 11 against the San Diego Chargers. Mack sacked Colin Kaepernick twice during the 24-13 victory over the San Francisco 49ers three weeks later. This was Mack's first game with multiple sacks in his career.

Mack's rookie year featured 76 combined tackles (59 solo), four sacks, a coerced fumble, and three pass deflections in 16 games and starts. Mack was nominated for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year by the end of his rookie season. In third place in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, Mack eventually finished third, behind defensive tackle Aaron Donald of the St. Louis Rams and linebacker C. J. Mosley of the Baltimore Ravens. On ESPN's NFL Live, he was named Defensive Rookie of the Year by analysts and was one of three linebackers selected to USA Football's sixth annual All-Fundamentals Staff (the others being Carolina Panthers and Tamba Hali of the Kansas City Chiefs).

The NFL updated the league's uniform numbering laws in March 2015 to allow linebackers to wear the numbers 40–49. Mack considered reverting from 52 to 46, the number he wore during his college career, but ultimately decided not to do so. Mack was voted as the NFL's top "making the leap" player in August 2015. Mack went from linebacker to right defensive end before the season, and he played at both positions.

Mack was sacking Josh McCown during Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns in the 27-20 road victory. Mack fired Matthew Stafford twice in Week 13 against the Detroit Lions, causing him to be suspended twice. During the 24-21 road victory over rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota, Mack delivered two sacks on rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota in the next game against the Tennessee Titans.

Mack sacked quarterback Brock Osweiler five times during a Week 15 road match against the Denver Broncos, tying a Raiders franchise record for sacks in a game that hadn't been established by defensive end Howie Long in 1983. This was Mack's third game in a row in which he had multiple sacks in a row. This was the Raiders' first over the Broncos since September 2011. Mack, his first, was a student at the University of On the following week, his teammates, safety Charles Woodson, and fullback Marcel Reece were all confirmed to the Pro Bowl, his first.

Mack finished the season with 77 total tackles (57 solo), 15 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two pass deflections in 16 games and starts. He became the first NFL player to play for two positions in the same year; right defensive end and outside linebacker; and right defensive end. Mack was ranked 13th by his peers on the 2016 NFL Top 100 Players.

During Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens, Mack delivered his first sack of the season on Joe Flacco, leading to a 28–27 road win. During Week 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mack led the team to a team high seven tackles and sacked Jameis Winston twice. Mack fired Trevor Siemian twice in the Raiders' next game, one of whom was a strip sack, which he also recovered after the Raiders defeated 30-20.

Mack made his first interception off of quarterback Cam Newton and returned it six yards for his first NFL touchdown during a Week 12 35–32 victory over the Carolina Panthers. In the final minute of the game, Mack induced Newton to forfeit, giving the Raiders the victory. Mack finished the game with an interception, a forced fumble, a failed scramble, and a defensive touchdown, making him the first player to play for the Green Bay Packers since 2009's cornerback Charles Woodson, a former Raiders cornerback, was the first to do so. Mack was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 12 after his efforts. For November, he was also named AFC Defensive Player of the Month, with four sacks, two forced fumbles, and an intercept. Mack made the game against the Buffalo Bills by sacking Tyrod Taylor, and the football was recovered in the fourth quarter, giving the team a 38–24 victory.

Mack was instrumental in the Raiders' first playoff appearance since the 2002 season and was named to his second straight Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro. During the 27–14 road loss, he made a team-high 11 tackles against the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. Mack was named Football Defensive Player of the Year for the 2016 season. Mack's total tackles in the 2016 season were 73 (54 solo), 11 sacks, five forced fumbles, three intercepted plays, three tackle blocks, three tackles, three passes defended, and an interceptor intercepted for a touchdown. He was ranked 5th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017 as the top-ranked defensive lineman. He was also named the Butkus Award's most outstanding professional winner.

The Raiders selected Mack's fifth-year deal on April 20, 2017. Mack had his sights set on the single season sack record going into his fourth season. During Week 2 against the New York Jets, Mack was fired for his first dismissal of the season on Josh McCown. During the 27–10 road loss, Mack recorded a team-high nine tackles and sacked Kirk Cousins once more. During the 16-10 road loss to the Denver Broncos, Mack sacked quarterback Trevor Siemian twice twice.

Mack made at least one sack in five straight games from Week 11 to 15. Mack recovered the football after defeating the New York Giants on Week 13. This was his first forced fumble and fumble recovery of the season. Mack sacked Dak Prescott twice against the Dallas Cowboys two weeks later during the 20–17 loss. Mack was named to his third straight Pro Bowl on December 19, 2017.

Mack finished the 2017 season with 78 combined tackles (61 solo), 10.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and three pass deflections in 16 games and starts. He was ranked 16th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.

The Oakland Browns drafted Matt Bryan, a 2020 second-round pick (Cole Kmet), as well as a 2020 fourth-round pick (Bryan Edwards), on September 1, 2018, following Mack's holdout through the entire preseason. Mack signed a six-year contract with the Bears worth $141 million with $90 million as the highest-paid defender in NFL history, just shy of his trade.

Mack made his Bears debut against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football on September 9, 2018. He had a strip-sack on backup quarterback DeShone Kizer, who was playing in relief of Aaron Rodgers due to a knee injury. He intercepted a pass from Kizer and returned it for a 27-yard touchdown later in the same quarter. On the highway 24–23, the Bears barely recovered. He was the first player to record a sack, compelled fumble, a touchdown recover, intercept, and touchdown in one half. It was also his second time playing in a single game dating back to Week 12 of the 2016 season. Mack had four tackles and a strip-sack of Russell Wilson in his second game with the Bears on Monday Night Football, 24–17. Mack's outstanding play in Week 3 continued his impressive play, with five tackles and a strip-sack on Josh Rosen, the first player to win strip-sacks in three straight games since Mack himself did it in 2016. Mack also had four tackles and another strip-sack in a 48–10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the next game. Mack became the first player to score sacks and forcible fumbles in four straight games since Colts outside linebacker Robert Mathis did so in 2005. Mack is also the first player to record forced fumbles in the first four games of a season since Jaguars defensive end Tony Brackens did so in 1999. Mack was named NFC Defensive Player of the Month for September after a total of 17 tackles, five sacks, four forcible fumbles, two pass deflections, a fumble recover, and an interceptor returned for a touchdown on October 4. Mack is the first Bears player to win the award since cornerback Charles Tillman in October 2012.

Mack made two tackles against the Miami Dolphins on Week 631–28, resulting in his missing his first game of his career and the New York Jets. Despite his absence, the Bears limited the Jets to 207 total yards, with only 57 passing, as Chicago defeated Chicago 24-20. Mack also missed the Buffalo Bills 41–9 victory over the Buffalo Bills the previous week before being sacked twice by the Detroit Lions in Week 10; the latter's 34–22 Bears victory over the Buffalo Bills won by the former quarterback in Week 10.

Mack had two tackles, suspended quarterback Kirk Cousins once, and stopped running back Dalvin Cook in Week 11 against the Minnesota Vikings. In a defensive effort that culminated in the Bears' record four turnovers and victory 15–6, he made three tackles against the 11–1 Los Angeles Rams, forcing Jared Goff to fumble. Mack sacked Aaron Rodgers 2.5 times and had two tackles for losses in the next game against the Packers. Mack was turned around backward by offensive lineman Jason Spriggs; unable to see Rodgers, Mack helped Bilal Nichols dismiss Rodgers down for a sack by using his back. The Bears won the game 24-17 and ranked atop the NFC North, while the Packers were ruled out of playoff contention.

Mack finished the regular season with 47 combined tackles (37 solo), 12.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two pass deflections, four pass deflections, and an interception with the first tackle since Richard Dent in 1993. In the Wild Card Round against the Philadelphia Eagles, he had six tackles in the narrow 16–15 loss. Mack was later selected to his fourth Pro Bowl and his third first-team All-Pro, but he did not participate in the former due to injury. Mack earned a total rating of 90.7 from Pro Football Focus in 2018, the second highest rating among all qualifying edge defenders. He received his second career pro Butkus Award in June 2019.

Mack made his first tackle and his first sacking of the season on Joe Flacco in the 16-14 road victory over Week 2 against the Denver Broncos. Case Keenum was dismissed twice in a 31–15 road victory in the following game against the Washington Redskins. He had four tackles, two forced fumbles, and four blocked fumbles. Mack fought the Minnesota Vikings for two tackles, 1.5 times, and a forced fumble the ball once more in the 16–6 victory. Mack continued his play against his former team, the Oakland Raiders, on Sunday, resulting in three tackles and a fumble bounce after a 24–21 loss in London. In the narrow 17–16 loss, three weeks later against the Los Angeles Chargers, he recorded four tackles, two pass deflections, and his first sack in a month on Philip Rivers. Mack had three tackles and a strip sack on Daniel Jones in Week 12 against the New York Giants, which was recovered by teammate Nick Williams in the 19–14 victory. Mack was tackled two weeks later against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, with two tackles and a diving sack on Dak Prescott during the 31-24 victory. In a 26–3 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Mack had four tackles and a sack on Patrick Mahomes.

Mack was named a starter for the 2020 Pro Bowl on December 17, 2019. Mack had 47 total tackles, five forced fumbles, a football restitution, and four pass deflections in 16 games and starts on the season.

Mack had three tackles and his first sack of the season on Daniel Jones during his victory over the New York Giants on Week 17–13. He also recovered a strip-sack order levied against Jones by teammate Robert Quinn on Jones. During the close 20-19 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers three weeks later, Mack hauled three tackles and sacked Tom Brady twice.

Mack threw down three tackles and his first interception of the season on Week 10, against the Minnesota Vikings, with a pass thrower blocking him from his first interception of the season. Mack scored two tackles and sacked Deshaun Watson in the endzone for a safety, prompting a scramble on Duke Johnson, who recovered during the 36–7 victory. Mack scored four tackles and a sack on Aaron Rodgers in the Green Bay Packers' regular-season finale, but the Bears lost 35-16. In the 21–9 road loss, he recorded two tackles and a pass deflection.

Mack was named to the Pro Bowl for the sixth straight season on December 21, and his sixth appearance in the Pro Bowl. He had eight sacks, three compelled fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and an intercept.

Mack's first dismissal of the season came in 2021 over the Cincinnati Bengals, on September 19, 2021. Mack lost 6–26 in a game against the Cleveland Browns on September 26, two sacks and two tackles. In a 20–9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, Mack had seven tackles and a sack on October 10.

Mack played in seven games during the 2021 season before undergoing season-ending foot surgery. On November 19, he was put on wounded reserve. Mack finished the season with 19 tackles and six sacks.

Mack was traded by the Bears to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft (Jaquan Brisker) and a sixth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on March 16, 2022. This move brought him together with Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, who served as the outside linebackers coach in Mack's first year with the Chicago Bears.

Mack's rookie season against his former team, the Raiders, saw three sacks and one forced fumble. It was his first three-plus sacks in a rookie debut with a new team since individual sacks were first recorded in 1982.

Source