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Khalil Mack is a Chicago Bear. You know that. Now read it again.
Khalil Mack is a Chicago Bear.
Still not registering?
Khalil Mack is a Chicago Bear.
Has the reality set in yet? If not, you better prepare yourself. The fun is about to begin.
Mack is being officially welcomed to Chicago by the Bears today at Halas Hall. A blockbuster trade needs a blockbuster welcome, after all. A tone-setter and generational superstar deserves the best the Bears have to offer.
Here at Windy City Gridiron, we’ll have full coverage of the press conference for the Bears’ new face of their defense. You can’t let up in moments like these.
Trading for Mack not only sent shockwaves around the NFL, but it made the Bears relevant again. It put them back on the map.
Khalil Mack is a Chicago Bear.
One more time.
Khalil Mack is a Chicago Bear.
Here’s a link to the Bears’ stream of their introduction of Mack on their website.
And here’s the Twitter link of the presser.
.@52Mack_’s introductory press conference is underway. https://t.co/BsF9dGvpCC
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) September 2, 2018
In one of the more momentous days in Bears franchise history, a day after they pulled off a coup for Mack, you could sense a palpable energy at 1920 Football Drive. Most importantly, you could sense Mack - fresh off his contract extension with Chicago - itching to get back to work amidst all the excitement.
After missing the entire preseason due to his holdout with the Raiders, you’d forgive Mack if he wants to get past the formalities and start learning the Bears defense as soon as possible.
Khalil Mack wants to get back to business now.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) September 2, 2018
"It's been a real whirlwind. But I'm looking forward to it, man. It's been a long time since I played football."
"I've been doing everything. I can't even begin to tell you. I've been getting ready for this moment," Mack is ready for Chicago.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) September 2, 2018
Why is Mack enticed by what the Bears have to offer, beyond anything on the field? They showed an interest in paying him what he’s worth. A novel concept that isn’t difficult to understand.
New Bears LB Khalil Mack asked what was attractive about Chicago: "To be wanted, that's all it takes."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 2, 2018
In missing the preseason, is the veteran Mack concerned about not being effective enough against the Packers next Sunday night? Not in the least, so stop wringing your hands.
Will Khalil Mack be ready for Green Bay: "I feel I'll be ready."
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) September 2, 2018
Joining the Bears is even easier for Mack when they not only have a coach to be excited about in Matt Nagy, but a roster ready to win now.
Khalil Mack: “Obviously it’s an exciting time to be a Chicago Bear. A lot of young talent."
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) September 2, 2018
That defensive roster for Chicago is obviously what Mack notices first. A group of “dogs” as he said, and a far cry from the shell of the Raiders’ defense. It’ll be nice to play with Akiem Hicks and Leonard Floyd.
Who are the "dogs" on the Bears defense according to Khalil Mack?
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) September 2, 2018
"Akiem (Hicks), I just talked to him. Leonard, too. Kyle Fuller's a baller out there. Trevathan. Those are some of the dogs."
Is there any pressure on being the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player? Yes, and Mack is prepared to live up to the hype.
Is there any pressure on being the highest-paid defensive player?
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) September 2, 2018
"Absolutely, I'd be lying if I said no," Mack says.
"I want to be the best defensive player, though. I believe I am the best defensive player."
A thought from Mack that his father adamantly agreed with.
Khalil Mack: "I've always thought of myself as the best defensive player in the league. I want to play like the best defensive player in the league."
— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) September 2, 2018
Khalil Mack's dad, from the side of the room: "Yes. Yes."
That pride is something Mack couldn’t take too far, however.
Khalil Mack asked what he said when Aaron Donald signed his then-record contract extension.
— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) September 2, 2018
"Can't say it in front of my parents."
It’s nice to mold these two together after competing against one another, isn’t it?
Khalil Mack on his impression of Matt Nagy's offense from facing it in the AFC West the last few years: "He made it hard for you because if you messed up, they were going to gut you."
— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) September 2, 2018
All of this is too much for Mack. It’s time for football to speak first. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers await.
"I almost don't want to say it. I just want to let my game speak for itself," Mack staying humble about saying what he brings to the table.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) September 2, 2018
"I'm a hard worker though, and everything on the field is going to take care of itself."
"He's the best in the game. But I'm a competitor, I want to go against the best. I'm looking forward to it," Mack looking forward to his matchup against Aaron Rodgers next Sunday night.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) September 2, 2018
After Mack left the podium, Bears general manager Ryan Pace and Nagy came to speak about the acquisition of the superstar.
In an interesting tidbit, the seeds of a Mack trade went back as far as before training camp began for the Bears in mid-July. You have to explore every option if you’re Pace.
"We started to think this is a possibility maybe even a little before training camp," Ryan Pace noting a Mack trade was rooted in July.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) September 2, 2018
"As time went on, it became even more realistic."
There is such a thing as positional value, and Pace puts a lot of emphasis on it. Mack plays football’s second-most important position, and the aggressive Bears had to acquire him.
"This is a premier player at a premier position, and they don't come around often," Ryan Pace very clearly understands the positional value of a guy like Mack.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) September 2, 2018
"I'm just very proud to be part of an organization willing to be this aggressive."
Ryan Pace: "It’s very easy in our league to play it safe and play it cautious. Not that we’re going to be reckless, but we’re going to be aggressive."
— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) September 2, 2018
Pace isn’t concerned about the lack of draft capital for the Bears in the near future. The best way of looking at it is that they just acquired a future Hall of Famer as their first-rounder in 2019. Everything will take care of itself.
Ryan Pace: "When we look at this next draft, our first-round pick is Khalil Mack. Our second-round pick is Anthony Miller." Then in 2020, two second-round picks makes Pace confident.
— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) September 2, 2018
For as much as Mack believes he can go out and dominate right away despite missing August, Nagy knows the Bears have to be more cautious with him to start.
"We're going to do everything to get him to a point to where he can play, and you see him he's been training and working out," Nagy on how Mack can feature against the Packers.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) September 2, 2018
"We want to be aggressive with it, but smart."
"We'll see how he responds and his feedback," Nagy neglecting to note what capacity Mack will be ready for in Week 1 after missing the preseason.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) September 2, 2018
"It's a day-by-day thing."
Khalil Mack will work out tomorrow with the #Bears, but Matt Nagy says the likelihood of him playing against Green Bay is "hopefully pretty good."
— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) September 2, 2018
Oh, and about those raised expectations with Mack’s addition? They didn’t have to be raised because they were already so high. It’s always been Super Bowl or bust for the Bears. Mack makes that fact more prominent.
"From what he's done, he makes us better. As a player, you're talking about a guy that's been the NFL Defensive Player of the Year," Nagy not downplaying Mack helping win a title.
— Robert Żeglinski (@RobertZeglinski) September 2, 2018
"We're not going to raise expectations, our goal from the start has been to win the Super Bowl."
Robert is an editor, writer, and producer for Windy City Gridiron, The Rock River Times, The Athletic Chicago, and a host of other fine publications. You can follow him on Twitter @RobertZeglinski and reach him by email at robertpoduski@gmail.com.