Edge defender Khalil Mack's playing days may be coming to an end.
A day after the Chargers' loss to the Texans, Mack spoke to the media and said he was considering retirement.
“Man, there are a lot of different thoughts going through my head right now.” Mack said, according to Joe Reedy of AP Sports. “I can't really make a final decision about what I'm going to do because I don't know if I'll play football in the future. So I need to discuss some things with my wife. Spend some time with my kids and try not to make a hasty decision after a loss.”
Mack's contract with Los Angeles is expiring and he will hit the free agency market for the first time in his 11-year career.
Mack, who turns 34 next month, had another productive season in which he finished with six sacks and nine passes defended en route to his ninth Pro Bowl.
This was Mack's fifth playoff appearance. Like any other trip, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for him. He still has to advance past the Wild Card round.
“I don’t want to go out with a loss because of my personality. “I definitely want to push and play some important games in the playoffs,” said Mack. “I try not to think ahead too much, but to give myself some time and a grace period to think things through.”
When Mack decides to hang up his boots, it's not because he's feeling the effects of aging, but because he wants to spend more time with his family, which includes his wife Brianna and their two children.
“It's more the mental toll of the game, just what it takes away from the family. It’s one of the things that will heavily influence my decision,” he said.
Mack said he did not have a timetable for his decision. But he will no doubt be thinking about what head coach Jim Harbaugh has done for the Chargers in just one season and what potential the team has after an offseason of restructuring with plenty of cap space and draft picks.
“It was a special year to understand what he achieved in the short time he was here and what potential there is in the building. Growth is inevitable,” Mack said of Harbaugh. “It was impressive what we were able to do and get out of it.”
