Bears Pro Bowl Center Drew Dalman Retires at 27

Chicago Bears Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman announced his retirement from the NFL on March 3, 2026, at the age of 27, leaving the team with a significant gap in its offensive line just months after a breakout season.

Dalman, a fourth-round pick out of Stanford by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2021 NFL Draft, spent four seasons with Atlanta before signing a three-year, $42 million contract with the Bears in the 2025 offseason. The deal included $26.5 million in guarantees as part of Chicago's rebuild of its interior line. In his lone season with the Bears, Dalman started all 17 games, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He allowed just one sack and 21 pressures while anchoring a unit that permitted a league-low 25 sacks on quarterback Caleb Williams and supported the NFL's third-ranked rushing attack.

The Bears finished the 2025 campaign with an 11-6 record, capturing the NFC North title and securing their first playoff victory in 15 years. Dalmans steady presence helped transform the offensive line into one of the league's most reliable groups, a key factor in the team's quick turnaround under Williams, the young quarterback the franchise had invested heavily to protect.