How many people would’ve bet there’d be a Khalil Mack Roquan Smith connection before the two even met? If you’re a little bit confused, let’s back up to the beginning. Most people would agree that the landmark moment of 2018 for the Chicago Bears franchise was when they pulled off the blockbuster trade to bring Mack in from Oakland.
It cost a lot to be sure. Not only four draft picks including two 1st rounders but also a record-breaking contract worth $141 million. Amazingly GM Ryan Pace didn’t even blink through the entire process. Why? He felt he was getting a truly special talent. Somebody who could elevate the entire team to new heights.
Pace wasn’t wrong. Despite missing two games and playing two others on a bad ankle, Mack finished the 2018 season with 12.5 sacks. That’s the most a Bears pass rusher has produced in 25 years when Richard Dent had the same number in 1993. Given the fact he only turns 28-years old this year, one can expect he has plenty of great seasons still ahead of him.
Despite everybody knowing most of the details about the trade itself, there is a new one that offers a little extra belief that the man was destined to play in Chicago.
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Khalil Mack Roquan Smith connection came out of nowhere
Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune dug deeper into what happened that fateful day the deal was closed. Oakland had agreed to the deal and the Bears were in the process of closing up negotiations on Mack’s new contract. The star pass rusher flew on a plane to Chicago but upon landing it was delayed on the tarmac for 90 minutes.
Head coach Matt Nagy decided to keep his new player upbeat and comfortable. So he texted him with a request for what he’d like for dinner. Mack’s reply seemed innocent at first until Nagy made a surprise connection.
“Mack responded with a request for a double chicken breast, grilled, with a side of rice and vegetables. And Nagy had yet another epiphany on what already had been an enchanted Saturday. That, the new head coach thought to himself, was similar to the order linebacker Roquan Smith had placed during his April pre-draft dinner with the Bears at Maevery in Lake Bluff.
Solid, healthy choice. This had to be another small meant-to-be sign.”
How about that? Two guys with absolutely no connection and yet believed to be the future foundation of the new Bears defense ordering almost the exact same meal during their first meeting with the organization. Given how much superstition can often play into professional sports, seeing something like this makes it hard to not believe that Mack was always fated to wear navy blue and orange.
There’s no denying that he and Smith have revived the Monsters of the Midway into a force once again.
