Khalil Mack boldly dispels Chargers fans' biggest concern

It's no secret that Khalil Mack contemplated retirement this offseason before agreeing to return to the Los Angeles Chargers for a fourth season on a one-year, $18 million deal.

And while the one-season contract seems to signify that the nine-time Pro Bowler will be taking things on a year-to-year basis from this point on, the 34-year-old says he's feeling like he could play several more seasons.

"I feel good. I feel young," Mack recently said on an episode of Up & Adams with Kay Adams. "I feel like I can hang in there for a few more [years]. All in all, it's just taking it one day at a time and coming out here and executing."

Khalil Mack sounds like he will play more than one more year with the Chargers

Now, that statement on its own is great, but it sounds even better when the lead-up to it was Mack explaining why he chose to return to the Chargers when he easily could've gone anywhere in free agency.

"It's the guys. Just knowing you got guys like Justin Herbert and Derwin James and the locker room with you. And you see the hard work we've all been putting in for these past few years. And just knowing we can capitalize on the talent that we have and just the hard work that coach Jim Harbaugh brings and what [general manager] Joe Hortiz brings and knowing the talent level of guys we have in each room. It's exciting."

And Bolts fans should undoubtedly be excited about his excitement.

Yes, Mack is 34 years old. But some were concerned about him being 33 heading into last season, and look how that turned out. He may not have put up the ridiculous numbers he did in 2023, but he still racked up 39 total tackles, six tackles for loss, 15 QB hits, 6.0 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles, and nine passes defended, earning him a third consecutive Pro Bowl selection and the ninth overall of his illustrious career.

From a PFF standpoint, Mack's 90.4 overall grade ranked fifth among all edge defenders, trailing only Aidan Hutchinson (94.9), Myles Garrett (92.3), T.J. Watt (91.7), and Nick Bosa (91.0). But seeing as how Hutchinson only appeared in five games for the Detroit Lions before suffering season-ending tibia and fibula fractures, we're thinking Mack deserves the No. 4 slot.

For a guy who's never won a single playoff game in 11 professional seasons, the fact that Mack chose to stay with the Chargers, who haven't had a postseason victory since the 2018 campaign, says quite a bit about how he feels about this team's chances in 2025.

And even if the Bolts don't get that elusive Super Bowl victory this season, it sounds like he would be more than willing to run it back for another season or two after.

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