A tempting life as a full-time family man nearly pulled Khalil Mack away from football.
“I was leaning towards coming back the whole time,” Mack said of mulling retirement before signing a one-year, $18-million contract in March to remain with the Chargers. “But it’s just considering the stage of life my kids are at, that balance of being a dad and a husband but still trying to follow the dream. I feel like I’m still in a position to do both.”
Advertisement
The future Hall of Famer decided the show must go on.
And now, with championship aspirations entering his 13th season, and fifth in Los Angeles, Mack is basking in his role as the Chargers’ elder statesman.
“Priceless,” defensive coordinator Chris O’Leary said of the 35-year-old outside linebacker’s presence. “He’s the flag bearer of our culture on defense. He leads the way with his actions. … When it’s time for him to say something, he’s going to say something.
“You’ve got a group of young edges in that room that all they’re doing is watching everything he does [and] listening to everything he says. It’s more valuable than anything I can say or do.”
IChargers linebacker Khalil Mack embraces one of his son on the sideline before a game against the Raiders at SoFi Stadium last season. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
He’s the 2016 defensive player of the year. He has nine Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro nods under his belt. And 113 sacks to his name.
Advertisement
Mack, despite coming off an injury-riddled down year, has never needed an introduction.
“He’s one of the best players of our generation,” offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said.
Yet, perhaps even more invaluable than Mack’s on-the-field impact is his leadership.
“Oh, man, I try,” Mack said. “I try to motivate.”
He’s pretty good at it.
Read more: With Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt back, Chargers open camp in a ‘Christmas’ mood
Whether by sharing pointers with rookies or helping rising stars such as teammate Tuli Tuipulotu navigate fuzzy contract negotiations, Mack makes himself available to help those in the Chargers organization become their best selves.
Advertisement
“It is unique,” Mack said of being a resource. “When you’re in that room, you want to be the guy you wanted to see early on … have those conversations that you wanted to have early on in your career, whether it was financial [or] different conversations you wanted to have and guys pouring into you.”
Mack learned the importance of passing down knowledge as a youngster in Oakland under the tutelage of seasoned veterans Charles Woodson and Justin Tuck.
“I feel like it [was] the catalyst for my career. I had them to lean on and those examples to lean on,” Mack said.
Nowadays, the Buffalo product stands on the other side of the street, paving the way for the next generation as one of the league’s older stars.
Advertisement
“I got friends that don’t play anymore,” Mack jested. “They’re like, ‘Aye, Mack, it’s lonely on this side.’ They’re always talking about the locker room and camaraderie. It’s just knowing how special being in the locker room is and being around your guys and enjoying it while you can.”
On that note, Mack has made it a point to savor every moment of training camp.
ISteelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers fumbles the ball as he’s sacked by Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack in the end zone during a game last season at SoFi Stadium. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Beyond looking the part, he has already spent time helping teammates better their technique, jumping at the opportunity to teach.
“He walked up and asked me three things that he can work on,” Mack said of helping rookie offensive tackle Travis Burke after practice. “I talked him through that stuff … kind of reminds me of Joe [Alt] his first year. Whatever I can share, I’m going to share, because I want them to be the best version of themselves.”
Advertisement
No one has anything bad to say about the man who wears No. 52.
Instead, everyone in the Chargers organization knows how integral Mack is to the day-to-day operations.
“Right now, [the rookies] don’t know any other way to do it than the way Derwin [James] does it, the way Justin [Herbert] does it, the way K-Mack does it,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “They don’t know any other way to do it than the way those best players go about their business. …”
Mack is the epitome of a pro’s pro.
Since being the No. 5 overall pick in the 2014 draft, he has been one of the most dominant pass rushers of his generation, one of the richest players off it, and in between, the ultimate captain.
Advertisement
“I had a lot of coaches that were in my ear about being a professional early,” Mack said. “I feel like that’s helped prolong my career. … You can take what you want and take what works for you … that’s kind of the advice I give.”
Mack returned to the Chargers to compete for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. But playing big brother to his teammates, has been a joyous subplot.
“What’s Coach Harbaugh say?” Mack asked rhetorically. “Enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”
Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Read the full article here