Chargers sign Khalil Mack to 1-year extension

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 11: Khalil Mack #52 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs around the edge during an NFL wild card playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Veteran Khalil Mack did not wait all that long before making the decision to forego retirement for another year in hopes of chasing a championship with the Chargers. On Saturday evening, the news broke that the Bolts are signing Mack to a one-year extension for a fully-guaranteed $18 million. That number matches the one-year extension he signed a year ago.

return of the mack (2026) pic.twitter.com/1LhpEr7Uo9

- Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) March 8, 2026

Even at his advanced age, Mack has been a difference-maker in all areas of the game despite a low sack total over the past two seasons. In 2023, he posted a career-high 17 sacks to go with 21 tackles for loss. He's followed that with just 11.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss over the last two years combined. Despite the low production as a pass rusher, Mack has still been very stout in stopping the run, finishing with the 8th-best run defense grade in that area by Pro Football Focus in 2025 (80.6).

At this point in his career, Mack is a borderline starter as far as his snaps played over the past two seasons. He has been on the field for 1,146 snaps the past two seasons combined compared to at least 921 in both 2022 and 2023. The 2025 saw him miss a chunk of time with an arm injury, but he played in 16 games the previous year and still managed only 668 snaps.

If this contract shows anything, it's that the Chargers believe Mack is THAT valuable to the locker room, regardless of his lack of production that shows up in the box score.

Welcome back, 52!