Nov 9, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) celebrates with center Drew Dalman (52) after scoring the game-winning touchdown against New York Giants during the fourth quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Chicago Bears Center Drew Dalman Suddenly Retires At 27

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Colin Bafia | Last updated Mar 3, 2026 6:56 PM ET

According to a report made by Adam Schefter , Chicago Bears Center Drew Dalman has informed the team that he is retiring from the NFL. This comes as a surprise since Dalman is coming off a successful Pro Bowl season and is still only 27 years old. The veteran center was only just entering the second season of his three-year, 42-million-dollar contract.

Although it’s impossible to tell what may have led Dalman to retire, he did have a history of ankle injuries throughout the 2023 and 2024 seasons, which may have become a lingering issue, although this is merely speculation.

The Impact That Drew Dalman’s Retirement Has On The Bears

Dalmans’ retirement has created an immediate need at the center position for the Bears that they will need to fill this offseason. Contractually, the situation is still complicated. Dalman still had 24 million dollars left on his contract, with 9.5 million being guaranteed in 2026, according to Sportrac on X. The total amount of money saved by a team when a player retires can be difficult to calculate. In general, all non-guaranteed money is waived, and the remaining money can be split between seasons, similar to a June first cut.

The Bears may also be able to enact the “Barry Sanders Rule“, which would allow them to pursue some of the signing bonuses of Dalman’s contract. Which would then not count against the cap. This rule often varies from contract to contract and is decided upon in arbitration, so nothing is concrete. Additionally, if Dalman decides to unretire, the Bears would still hold his contractual rights.

This move will have large ramifications on how the Bears pursue this offseason and will likely change the approach they take in the following months. They will now have to fill two openings on their offensive line, including center and left tackle. Bears head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles will have to carefully decide which players to pursue to sustain the Bears’ success.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

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