The Bears Have Already Made a Call That Could Change Their SeasonJanik Eckardt Tue, October 27, 2026 at 12:41 PM UTC
Dec 4, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles looks on before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Bears have reached the point where a trade deadline move could do more than patch a weakness. At 5–2, with Caleb Williams back in the lineup and the offense coming off consecutive 30-point games, they have reason to ask whether one addition on defense could change their ceiling.
General manager Ryan Poles has apparently started asking. FOX Sports insider Jay Glazer reported that the Bears have spoken with the Los Angeles Chargers about Khalil Mack. Glazer also expects Chicago to be aggressive before the November 10 deadline.
That is a meaningful step beyond fans hoping for a reunion. It is still an inquiry, not a trade in progress. No offer, asking price or agreement has been reported, and the Chargers have shown no public willingness to move Mack.
Chicago has a reason to keep calling
Sep 20, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) and Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Tuli Tuipulotu (45) react after a play against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Bears are getting sacks, but the way they generate pressure deserves a closer look. Cornerback Kyler Gordon has four in just two games since returning from injury, tying Austin Booker for the team lead. His blitzing gives defensive coordinator Dennis Allen a valuable weapon. It also illustrates how much Allen has asked players outside the defensive line to contribute to the rush.
Against the Patriots, Chicago’s pressure disrupted Drake Maye early. New England eventually found answers, including a 30-yard touchdown pass to Eli Raridon that beat a Bears blitz. Sending extra defenders can create a free runner, but it can also leave fewer people to cover receivers if the quarterback gets the ball away.
Mack would give Allen another established edge option. With Mack and Montez Sweat available, Chicago could test how often it can pressure quarterbacks with its defensive front while keeping more help in coverage. That would not eliminate the need for Gordon’s blitzes; his ability to rush from the slot is part of what makes him dangerous. It could make the Bears less dependent on getting the timing of those calls exactly right.
There is a depth argument, too. Sweat’s two-game suspension has ended, but Dayo Odeyingbo remains on injured reserve. Booker and Daniel Hardy have helped fill the gap. Adding Mack would give Allen another option rather than requiring any one of them to carry the edge rush every week.
This would be a bet on the present
Oct 4, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (52) is seen against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Mack is 35. The Bears would be trading for the player he is now, not the star who transformed their defense when he first arrived in Chicago in 2018. The current player still has value: he has three sacks through six games this season.
He is also playing on a one-year deal. That makes a possible trade easier to understand as a push for this season, but it also limits what Chicago should be willing to give up. Any acquiring team would have to account for the remaining salary and the possibility that Mack leaves after 2026. Suggested draft-pick packages circulating in opinion pieces are estimates; there is no reported price from Los Angeles.
And that remains the biggest obstacle. ESPN reported that the 0–6 Chargers have given no indication they want to trade Mack. A poor record may prompt calls from other teams, but it does not force Los Angeles to accept one. Poles can keep the conversation open; he cannot make the Chargers become sellers.
The Bears should be clear-eyed about what Mack would solve, too. He would not erase every coverage mistake or make Chicago’s run defense flawless. What he could offer is another way to affect the quarterback, especially when Allen would rather avoid sending an extra defender. For a team whose offense is beginning to look capable of winning a playoff game, that flexibility matters.
Chicago has until November 10 to find out whether the Chargers’ stance changes. If it does not, Poles will have to look elsewhere for defensive help. But the reported call shows the Bears are examining what it would take to improve this roster now. At 5–2, that is a conversation worth having.
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