The Windy City has been quiet for some time now. The last big splash was in January when the Bears signed Lions OC Ben Johnson as their HC. Since then, there’s been nothing major. But maybe that’s about to change now. Free agency is around the corner, and the draft is also coming up in April. So, the Bears are about to make some noise as well. Speaking of free agency, some rumors are swirling.

So, what’s cooking in Chicago? Well, imagine a player whose name is among the 100 greatest Bears of all time—a player in the same elite group as Ed Sprinkle, Joe Fortunato, and other legends—reuniting with the team this season. The talk of the town? Khalil Mack might be making a comeback to his former team. Bears fans would undoubtedly welcome him back with open arms.

Mack spent the last three seasons anchoring the Chargers‘ defense, but now, at 34 years old, he’s set to become a free agent. And truth be told, he’ll be one of the top defensive stars in free agency this year.

The nine-time Pro Bowler donned the Bears jersey for four seasons from 2018 to 2021. Chris Emma from 670 The Score reports, “Sources believe Mack has interest in a return to Chicago, where he played from 2018-’21. Mack isn’t interested in the spotlight, but the vision would be for him to be a complementary piece of the defense, not the star.” However, it’s just a rumor for now. There has been no official word from either side.

If he does return, it might help the Bears‘ crippling defense. But honestly, the team needs help on both sides of the ball, looking at their 2024 season. Now, you know things don’t go easy for franchises in the NFL. If a top player is in the free market, there will be other franchises lurking in the shadows as well.

Ben Johnson’s rivals threaten Bears’ plans

Khalil Mack is not the only one the Bears might be bringing on board. The team needs to fix both its offensive and defensive lineups. And for that, they are also eyeing an offensive player from the Colts. Enter Will Fries, a potential free agent with his $3.57 million deal with Indianapolis expiring this year. The 26-year-old started his NFL journey in 2021, donning the Colts jersey and serving as their guard for four seasons. But the Bears are not the only ones eyeing him.

It looks like it’s going to be a battle for Will Fries, with the Vikings challenging Chicago. Alec Lewis of The Athletic reported, “Fries fits the Vikings’ preferred free-agent benchmarks in that he’s young, versatile, and productive. How his right tibia fracture affects his market remains to be seen, but the Vikings will likely be bidding against multiple teams, including the NFC North-rival Chicago Bears.” That will be an interesting thing to watch. But there’s a catch.

During Week 5 of the 2024 season, Will fractured his right tibia and was sidelined for the rest of the season. That will play a major factor in how franchises evaluate him in free agency. But the Bears’ name is popping up as the team is continuously looking to add strength to its O-line. “The sense is Chicago will sign at least one interior offensive lineman. Drew Dalman, 49ers guard Aaron Banks, and Colts guard Will Fries are among players on the radar. Like Dalman, Banks, and Fries are in line for sizable contracts,” reported Jeremy Fowler.

So, is it the Vikings who are threatening the Bears’ plans, or is it Ben Johnson’s team that might pose a threat to Minnesota? Well, only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: a single move by one team in the free agency will trigger things for another.