By Kenneth Miller|Sports Editor
EL SEGUNDO, CA—–Eleven-year veteran and defensive stalwart Khalil Mack sat shirtless at his locker stall in sparkling new The Bolt, the Chargers training facility here on a day that he was not supposed to address the media in advance of the Bolts Wild Card Playoff game against the Texans in Houston on Saturday.
“I’m not supposed to be talking because tomorrow is my day, but go ahead,” he explained to South Bay Black Journal.
KHALIL MACK
Mack has enjoyed 5 seasons with at least 10.5 sacks with three teams, the Raiders, Bears and now Chargers where in the 2023-’24 campaign he enjoyed his best season with 17 sacks.
A menacing presence throughout his NFL career he knows that he doesn’t have too many years left to achieve the ultimate goal of hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy and while all eyes are rightfully on the two time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills and dazzling Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, there is reason for optimism if you are a Chargers fan.
That is because of the off season hire of head coach Jim Harbaugh, who consistently has been the talk of the town as he was on Wednesday although he wasn’t even there addressing the media.
That task at the podium was left to super star quarterback Justin Herbert who refused to even acknowledge that this playoff experience was any different than past years under the likes of Brandon Staley when the Bolts melted after leading 27-0 before succumbing 31-30.
However, there is no ignoring the elephant in the room anymore and Mack was obliging in recognizing that Harbaugh is different than any coach that he has played for.
When asked if the preparation is any different with Harbaugh, Mack responded.
“Yeah, but then that’s hard to say because it’s been like 11 years of trying to figure out different coaches in my head, but yeah man Coach Harbaugh is definitely a unique character in itself. It’s hard to even say what’s different but he is just different in every possible way,” Mack told South Bay Black Journal in an exclusive interview.
When pushed to reveal what stands out about him, Mack was blunt.
“Everything bruh, just his approach and how he speaks to the team, just the level of accountability and making sure that everybody is on the same page. Just everything is unique. “The way he thinks is unique, he has a perspective of a winner, that all he thinks about and it rubs off,” Mack said.
Can you feel it?
“Yes absolutely, that’s the whole point of it. He says things, but it’s also the feeling and you know what he’s saying because he’s been there, he’s played the game at a high level, but the approach and uniqueness of it is authentic to him.”
