Report: LB Khalil Mack passes on retirement, will test free agency

Los Angeles Chargers pass rusher Khalil Mack is planning to play in 2026, eschewing retirement to test free agency, NFL Network reported Monday.

BY FIELD LEVEL MEDIA

Mar 2, 2026, 12:02 PM Updated: 3:07 pm

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Los Angeles Chargers pass rusher Khalil Mack is planning to play in 2026, eschewing retirement to test free agency, NFL Network reported Monday.

Mack, 35, is reportedly planning to “explore options” on the open market but could return to Los Angeles for another season.

A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Khalil Mack has 113 career sacks in 179 games (177 starts) since being drafted by the Raiders with the No. 5 pick of the 2014 draft. He played in 12 games (11 starts) last season for the Chargers and was credited with 5.5 sacks.

#Chargers legend Khalil Mack, one of the top edges available, will play in 2026, sources say. At the age of 35, coming off a strong season, Mack is a priority for LA.

Instead of retirement, Mack is back exploring all options and will be a big-time target in free agency. pic.twitter.com/VnPRbElhEa

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 2, 2026

Traded twice in 12 NFL seasons, Khalil Mack has never stayed with a team more than four seasons. He spent four years with the Raiders before being acquired by the Chicago Bears in 2018. He was traded to the Chargers in 2022.

Mack hit double figures in sacks just once since the 2018 season, recording 17 in 2023.

–Field Level Media

More on LB Khalil Mack

Few defensive players of the past decade have been as consistently disruptive as Khalil Mack. Since entering the league as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft out of the University at Buffalo, Mack has built a résumé that places him among the NFL’s elite pass rushers.

Mack made an immediate impact with the then-Oakland Raiders, earning First-Team All-Pro honors in 2015 at two different positions — defensive end and outside linebacker — a rare feat in modern football.

That same season, he recorded 15 sacks, firmly establishing himself as a defensive cornerstone. In 2016, he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year after tallying 11 sacks, five forced fumbles, and an interception.

Over his career with the Raiders, Chicago Bears, and Los Angeles Chargers, Mack has consistently pressured quarterbacks and produced turnovers. He surpassed the 100-career sack milestone and has recorded multiple double-digit sack seasons.

His dominance has been recognized with numerous Pro Bowl selections and multiple First-Team All-Pro honors.