Alex Mack took a long time to conclude that he was done playing in the NFL. Early on, the San Francisco 49ers sounded reasonably optimistic that the seven-time Pro Bowl player would return for his 14th season. But, as the offseason progressed, that optimism diminished. By last month, the 49ers could see the writing on the wall.
At the start of organized team activities, head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked about Mack's future.
"I'm going to leave that up to Alex, but I've got a pretty good idea," Shanahan responded. "I think you guys do too."
Most clearly saw that as an indication that Mack had made his decision and that his NFL career was over.
Why did Mack's decision take so long to make? It had everything to do with how his NFL career ended. He felt the sting of the 49ers' loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game.
"It hurt," Mack told Albert Breer of The MMQB. "It hurt, that's for sure. It's so hard to win a Super Bowl, and I've gotten close twice now, and it's been 13 years. It's such a monumental task that takes talent and luck and timing. It's just one of those things that's immensely hard. And every year for 13 years, I did absolutely everything I could to be the best player possible, and I got close twice. And the fact that it didn't happen my last year, that isn't ideal.
"But everybody loses, except one team. The numbers are so stacked against you. And that weighed into the equation. If we had won the Super Bowl, I think I would've been really quick to retire. It was, Does my body have another year to give it another go? And I landed on, No, it's time, it's time to walk away."
Mack's retirement leaves the 49ers with questions at center. There were already question marks at the guard positions following Laken Tomlinson's departure. That makes the entire interior of the offensive line a concern. With right tackle Mike McGlinchey still recovering from the torn quadriceps tendon that ended his 2021 season, the only sure thing among the unit is left tackle Trent Williams.
Mack still loved all the work. The concern was whether or not he wanted to put his body through it one last time.
"I had a really good time on the field, and I always have really loved football," Mack said. "It's a lot of work; it's hard, and you're tired. But it's fun to be with the guys, and be at practice, and run around and push things. It just gets harder, when your body hurts, to do that day-in and day-out, and be the player you want to be every time, with the immense pressure of preparing week-in and week-out.
"There are a lot of things that go into the season. You really have to be ready to go all in. There's no half-effort. You have to be training your hardest, getting your body right, ready to put in the work in the film room. It is a monumental task of monotony to be good."
Mack spent one season with San Francisco, signing a three-year contract in 2021. His efforts last season earned him his seventh Pro Bowl selection. While his time playing in the NFL is over, he doesn't expect to leave the game he loves completely.
"I want to be involved in football for the rest of my life; there's no question about that," Mack said. "This game has given me too much to just walk away. ... I'll find a way to stay involved, whether it's coaching high school, pee-wee football, or at a higher level. I like the game too much and put too much time and effort into it. It's too much fun and too rewarding not to stay at least partially involved."