Sources: Bears center Drew Dalman retiring from NFL at age 27 - ESPN

CHICAGO — Veteran center Drew Dalman has informed the Chicago Bears that he is retiring from the NFL, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Dalman, 27, is ending his pro career after five seasons. The former fourth-round pick spent his first four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (2021-24) where he started 40 games. Dalman was Chicago's marquee free agent signing during the 2025 offseason when he inked a three-year, $42 million contract with the Bears.

The surprising news comes less than three months removed from the Bears winning the NFC North title and their first playoff game in 15 season. Dalman was a key piece along an offensive line that ranked No. 1 in pass block win-rate (74%) and fifth in run block win-rate (74%). The center had the eighth-highest pass block win-rate among all interior offensive linemen with 406 wins in 423 passing plays. He started all 17 games for the Bears.

Last March, the Bears flipped the interior of their offensive line in less than a week when they traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson before signing Dalman as a free agent. Both Thuney and Dalman earned Pro Bowl honors, which was the first for Dalman during his five-year career.

The Bears' investment along the offensive line paid major dividends for quarterback Caleb Williams. As a rookie in 2024, Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times. During his second season, that number dropped to 24 sacks. The durability of Chicago's offensive line was among the core components of its success last season, with Dalman logging every single offensive snap of the 1,154 in 2025.

Chicago enters free agency with work to be done to be compliant with the salary cap ahead of the new league year on March 11. Last week, the Bears granted linebacker