Bears center Drew Dalman is retiring at 27 years old.
The Pro Bowl offensive lineman informed the team Tuesday that he's stepping away from the game after five seasons in the NFL, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter .
A fourth-round pick out of Stanford by the Falcons in 2021, Dalman spent the first four seasons of his career in Atlanta .
Last offseason, Dalman signed a three-year, $42 million deal to come to Chicago.
Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman prepares to hike the ball during the game between the Chicago Bears and the Philadelphia Eagles on November 28, 2025 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
He played all 17 games and every single offensive snap for the Bears last season en route to his first career Pro Bowl nod.
Dalman ranked in the top 15 in both run-blocking and pass-blocking, according to Pro Football Focus, allowing just one sack and 24 pressures all season.
While he had a perfect bill of health last season, Dalman missed 11 games between 2023 and 2024 with an ankle injury.
Dalman was a key part of the Bears' revamped offensive line, which allowed just 25 sacks all season, fueling a massive turnaround in Chicago, who went 11-6 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman (52) takes the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
The Bears also have some uncertainty at left tackle after 2025 second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo suffered a ruptured patellar tendon, which is expected to take him out for most, if not all, of the 2026 season.
The franchise wasted no time looking for Dalman's replacement, having planned to host a visit with former Commanders center Tyler Biadasz , who recently became a free agent, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport .
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that Chicago has "sniffed around" on star free agent center Tyler Linderbaum .
He is expected to get a massive haul on the open market.
