The Khalil Mack trade has been debated for years, but new details are finally shedding light on why the Las Vegas Raiders were willing to move on from one of the NFL’s most dominant pass rushers.
September 1, 2018, was a tragic day for Raiders fans everywhere. It was the day Mack, one of the most talented edge rushers in NFL history, was traded to the Chicago Bears. Eight years later, Mack is finally speaking about the league-altering moment.
The trade came shortly after the Raiders hired Jon Gruden as head coach in 2018, signing him to a 10-year, $100 million contract in his second stint leading the team. Because of the timing, many fans blamed Gruden for Mack’s departure. But Mack, known as “Mack Attack,” put those rumors to rest during a recent appearance on “Bussin’ With The Boys.“
Khalil Mack never spoke to Jon Gruden on purpose
Taylor Lewan, former Tennessee Titans offensive tackle, discussed the infamous trade with the star pass rusher at Los Angeles Chargers training camp. It’s evident Mack was a huge fan of Jack Del Rio, the Raiders head coach at the time. Lewan asked the Chargers edge rusher what events ultimately led to the legendary trade.
“It was a mix of Jack Del Rio leaving and Jon Gruden coming in,” Mack said.
That makes sense, considering Del Rio led Oakland to 25 wins in three seasons, compared to just 15 wins for Las Vegas since 2023. But what Mack says about Gruden is the most interesting part of the interview.
“My agent let me know, ‘You might need to avoid all contact,'” Mack said. “If you talk to him, he’ll probably convince you to do something you’ll regret doing.”
Trade talks emerged because Oakland wasn’t willing to give the 2016 Defensive Player of the Year a contract extension.
Oakland chose the offense over Khalil Mack
In 2024, former NFL edge rusher Chris Long interviewed the nine-time Pro Bowler, who expressed frustration over the lack of talent on the Raiders’ defense.
“At the time, I feel like we didn’t have much on defense,” Mack said. “I feel like everyone on offense was getting paid.”
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It’s worth noting that Derek Carr signed a five-year, $125 million contract in 2017, and Gabe Jackson signed a five-year, $55 million contract that same year. Although Mack was the face of the franchise, a contract extension didn’t come as easily for him.
Losing a dominant force like Mack was a devastating blow to the franchise. Compounding that loss, the Raiders also missed on many of the draft picks acquired in the trade. After years of speculation, the answers are finally coming out.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images