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The Chicago Bears reportedly lost a big piece of their offensive line on Tuesday.
Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman informed the team he would retire at just 27 years old after five seasons, according to ESPN.
The Bears signed Dalman to a three-year, $42 million contract last offseason as they overhauled the interior of their offensive line in head coach Ben Johnson’s first season. They signed Dalman and traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, and saw good results.
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Drew Dalman (52) of the Chicago Bears leaves the field after warming up prior to an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 28, 2025. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Dalman played in all 17 games and did not miss any of the team’s 1,154 snaps and made his first career Pro Bowl. The Bears went 11-6 and won the NFC North in large part because of the team’s revamped offensive line.
The running back duo of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai were highly effective last season. Swift ran for 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns, while Monangai ran for 783 yards and five touchdowns.
Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman (52) takes the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois on December 20, 2025. (Mike Dinovo/Imagn Images)
In 2024, before Dalman, Jackson and Thuney were brought in, quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times. In 2025, he was sacked only 24 times.
Dalman was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Stanford. He played four seasons with the Falcons before leaving in free agency to join the Bears.
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Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman (52) practices against the New Orleans Saints before the game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois on Oct. 19, 2025. (Mike Dinovo/Imagn Images)
Free agency officially begins on March 11 at
Bears left tackle Ozzy Trapilo tore his patellar ligament in the playoffs last season, so they will have to address that position this offseason as well.
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