Happy Khalil Mack Day!

The Chicago Bears stunned the football world two years ago today when they acquired Khalil Mack in a blockbuster trade with the (Oakland) Raiders.

by
Aalap Desai
September 1, 2020

It was the morning of September 1, 2018. “In my feelings” by Drake was topping the charts that day. However, if you ask most Bears fans what they remember from that day, that wouldn’t be it. It was something slightly more significant that occurred in their football lives.

It was exactly two years ago today that the Chicago Bears did something completely unexpected, acquiring defensive superstar Khalil Mack in a blockbuster trade.

Sources to ESPN: Raiders and Bears have an agreement in place to trade Khalil Mack to Chicago. Still working through it, but Raiders now planning to send Mack to Chicago.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2018

At the time, one could argue, the price for Mack felt steep. However, Ryan Pace’s aggressiveness in trading for the franchise altering superstar felt like the final piece to the puzzle.

Trade official, source tells ESPN:

Bears get: Khalil Mack, a 2020 second-round round pick and a conditional 2020 fifth-round pick.

Raiders get: 2019 first-round pick, 2020 first-round pick, 2020 third-round pick, 2019 sixth-round pick.

So Bears get back second-round pick, too
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2018

Not only did the Bears land Mack but they even locked him up to a franchise record setting deal fairly quickly.

Khalil Mack and the Bears just reached agreeement on a record-setting 6-year, $141 million extension ($23.5M per year avg) that includes $90M guaranteed and $60M at signing, source tells ESPN.

Mack is the new highest-paid defensive player in NFL history.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 1, 2018

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In two seasons thus far with the Bears, Mack has already made his presence felt. Mack has 94 total tackles, 18 TFL, 21 sacks, 11 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one interception.

But, the stat sheet doesn’t show the entire story. Mack has commanded numerous double and triple teams allowing other defensive players to feast. Unless your name is Leonard Floyd.

But who can forget his Bears debut vs. Green Bay in Week 1, 2018?

Even more impressive about that performance is that he’d been a Bear for only a week and held out all off-season during his contract dispute with Oakland.

What made this trade even sweeter was the fact the Packers were the rumored front-runners for Mack the night prior. Somehow, some way, Ryan Pace brokered a deal with the Raiders and swooped in at the eleventh hour and stole him from right under Green Bay’s nose.

So on this day, two years later, we say thank you. Thank you, Jon Gruden and the Raiders. Thank you, Ryan Pace and the biggest thank you to the greatness that currently wears #52 for the Chicago Bears.

Today, September 1, 2020, the number one song? “Dynamite” by BTS. The more things change (#1 songs), the more things stay the same (Khalil Mack).

Happy Khalil Mack Day, Bears fans!