After a devastating 27-point playoff collapse two seasons in the past practically despatched Khalil Mack into sudden retirement, the Chargers’ star edge rusher plans to revisit the choice about his soccer future with extra care this offseason as he’s slated to change into an unrestricted free agent for the primary time in his profession.
Nonetheless sporting the injuries of the Chargers’ AFC wild-card spherical exit to the Houston Texans, Mack mentioned Sunday he’ll prioritize his household whereas evaluating his subsequent profession transfer. The daddy of two will make sure that to debate it together with his spouse. He is aware of how impressionable his sons, aged 2 and three, are at this age. They love watching highlights of their father’s soccer profession, and spending time with them is of utmost significance.
However the 11-year skilled who may very well be within the working for the Corridor of Fame at some point continues to be chasing not solely his first championship, however his first playoff victory.
“I also don’t want to go out with a L, just based on who I am as a man and a person,” Mack mentioned. “I’m a competitor, man. I’m the ultimate competitor.”
The 33-year-old Mack is certainly one of many impending free brokers who will weigh their soccer futures after the Chargers have been bounced from the playoffs by the Houston Texans. However the annual menace of roster churn got here with extra optimism in El Segundo on Sunday because the Chargers appeared towards a shiny future beneath coach Jim Harbaugh.
“Just understanding what he’s done in the short time he’s been here, and the potential of the guys that are in the building, you see the growth is inevitable,” Mack mentioned. “It’s only a matter of time.”
The Chargers went from 5 wins final 12 months to 11 in Harbaugh’s first season, the most effective single-season turnaround for the franchise in 20 years. Within the course of, Harbaugh “made football fun again,” mentioned cornerback Kristian Fulton, who’s slated to hit free company once more after signing a one-year cope with the Chargers.
“Honestly one of my favorite teams I’ve ever been on,” security Derwin James Jr. mentioned.
James is already making an attempt to maintain the band collectively.
Amid ultimate group conferences, exit interviews and locker clear out Sunday, the All-Professional security gave Mack his pitch to maintain the sting rusher in L.A. The pair of defensive leaders earned Professional Bowl nominations this season as James notched a career-high 5½ sacks. Mack, who restructured his contract final offseason to take a pay lower and stick with the Chargers, earned his ninth Professional Bowl look, tallying 39 tackles and 6 sacks.
Khalil Mack walks off the sector after a Chargers win over the New England Patriots on Dec. 28.
(Vera Nieuwenhuis / Related Press)
Though it was a lower from when he revitalized his profession with a career-high 17 sacks and 74 tackles, his highest complete since 2017, Mack mentioned his physique is in “tip-top shape.” After lacking one sport this season due to a groin harm, Mack mentioned the larger consideration is the psychological toll of a season and the time it takes away from his household.
The Chargers’ third Professional Bowl choice Rashawn Slater is beneath contract by 2025 after the group picked up the left sort out’s fifth-year possibility final Might, however may very well be due for a long-term extension quickly. The 25-year-old had the second-highest blocking grade amongst tackles this season, based on Professional Soccer Focus, and earned his second Professional Bowl look.
Regardless of coming off such a robust season, Slater mentioned he has not engaged in any extension talks.
“I’ve always just been focused on ball and kind of let the thing happen how it happens,” Slater mentioned. “But I love playing here and that would be great.”
Along with Mack, the Chargers additionally face free company choices on starters, together with heart Bradley Bozeman, working again J.Okay. Dobbins, defensive backs Fulton, Elijah Molden and Asante Samuel Jr. and defensive linemen Poona Ford and Morgan Fox.
Samuel was positioned on injured reserve Oct. 12 with a shoulder harm that he likened to a stinger Sunday, his first feedback to native media since he was sidelined. He aggravated the harm throughout a collision in apply and was on the harm report for Week 1 however continued to play till it flared up heading into the Chargers’ Week 6 sport in opposition to the Denver Broncos. Medical doctors suggested him to take a cautious method. He mentioned each shoulders are affected, however the left one is extra extreme. It didn’t require surgical procedure and he expects to be prepared for the offseason program wherever he lands subsequent 12 months.
After the Chargers drafted him forty seventh general in 2021, Samuel mentioned it was “hurtful” to not be on the sector whereas his group became one of many NFL’s greatest defenses. Below first-year defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, the Chargers completed the common season because the NFL’s top-ranked scoring protection, permitting 17.7 factors per sport.
“The first year is a lot of bumps and bruises, but I feel like next year they’re going to be top tier,” Samuel mentioned. “We was already top tier this year. So I feel like next year is going to take another step, and it’ll keep taking steps and getting better each and every year. We have a great coaching staff. We have a great staff in general, just the whole organization. … So we have all the pieces we need here.”
These items may very well be a key in Mack’s final determination. Previous his preliminary estimate of a 10-year skilled profession, Mack has made it clear that if he’s taking part in, he intends to be competing for a championship.
For the primary time shortly, the Chargers may actually match the invoice.
“As long as Justin Herbert is your quarterback, Derwin James and all these guys, man, that love the game of football, and you got Jim Harbaugh coaching you,” Mack mentioned, “you know you always have a chance to win.”
