When Ryan Pace traded for Khalil Mack last September, the entire trajectory of the Bears franchise changed.
Here was a top defensive talent in the prime of his career — and he was coming to a defense that was a Top 10 unit just a season ago, and a team with the arrow pointed up. The Bears became legitimate contenders.
One season, 12 wins and an NFC North title later, the Bears are a Super Bowl contender heading into the 2019 season.
NFL.com’s Adam Schein ranked the NFL’s most indispensable defensive players, guys who are most critical to their teams’ success, and Mack made the list at No. 2 behind the Rams’ Aaron Donald.
Here’s what Adam Schein had to say about Mack:
Chicago already had talent on defense, but Mack took everything to a whole other level, striking fear in opposing offenses while raising the play and confidence level of his new teammates. The Bears ranked first in scoring defense and took the division title for the first time since 2010 (after finishing dead last the previous four seasons). Mack’s the straw that stirs this drink, and with Vic Fangio now in Denver, his presence is even more crucial.
Mack had a lot to do with that shift. Pace’s decision to pilfer Mack from the Raiders was a sign that the Bears were a team ready to win — and ready to win now.
In his first season with the Bears, Mack was a force off the edge with 12.5 sacks and six forced fumbles.
Mack’s presence wasn’t just felt through his individual performance. He’s the type of player that makes everyone around him better, and what he brought to arguably the NFL’s best defense last season was invaluable.
Now, Mack has a full offseason under his belt as he prepares to head to his first training camp with the Bears. And the expectation is that he can be even better in 2019.
