Bears Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman retiring at age 27 in surprising move: report

The Chicago Bears reportedly lost a large portion of their offensive line on Tuesday.

Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman informed the team that 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 while overhauling 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 had great results.

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Drew Dalman (52) of the Chicago Bears leaves the field after warmups 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, making the first Pro Bowl of his career. The Bears went 11-6 and won the NFC North in large part thanks to the team’s revamped offensive line.

The running back duo of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai was very effective last season. Swift rushed for 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns, while Monangai rushed 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/Image Images)

In 2024, before Dalman, Jackson and Thuney were brought in, quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times. In 2025, he was fired 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 October 19, 2025. (Mike Dinovo/Image Images)

Free agency officially begins on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET, and the Bears will look to replace him with a free agent center or in the NFL draft.

Bears left tackle Ozzy Trapilo tore his patellar tendon in the playoffs last season, so they will have to address that position this offseason as well.

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