The Chicago Bears could take a drastic measure to regain more cap space after the stunning news that Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman will retire from the NFL.
According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, Dalman informed the Bears on March 3 that he intends to retire from the NFL after making his first career Pro Bowl in his first season with the team in 2025. He is 27 and has two more years left on his $42 million contract.
Dalman had a $14 million cap hit for the 2026 season, but his retirement will cause him to forfeit his $11 million base salary ($9.5 million guaranteed), leaving the Bears on the hook for only the remaining $4 million of his prorated signing bonus in 2026 and 2027. They will expectably gain about $10 million in cap space when Dalman officially retires.
As Cronin noted, though, the Bears have the option to recoup some of Dalman’s signing bonus, as they have not yet paid out $2 million of the bonus. Carmen Vitali, formerly of Marquee Sports Network, also made it clear that Dalman was aware of that possibility.
“Confirming what Courtney said here that the Bears are on the hook for a very minimal amount of Drew Dalman’s contract,” Vitali wrote on X on March 3. “The retirement voids future guarantees, and he could owe back the prorated signing bonus, per source.
“All of which he was aware of when he made this decision.”
Money Aside, Drew Dalman’s Retirement Hurts Bears
Regardless of whether the Bears claw back some of Dalman’s bonus, his retirement puts another hole in the team’s roster as they prepare for the start of the 2026 league year.
Dalman played an essential role in the Bears’ offensive turnaround in 2025, bringing stability to a center position that has troubled the franchise for more than a decade and calling the protections and adjustments up front to help quarterback Caleb Williams. He allowed just one sack and finished with the eighth-best pass-block win rate (96%) in the league among interior offensive linemen, according to ESPN Analytics.
That won’t be easy for the Bears to replace, even with talent available at the position.
One thing working in Chicago’s favor is the consistency they will retain with guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. While they must evaluate their options to find a fit who can handle some of the more veteran-designated responsibilities that Dalman handled, it should help the Bears to have two know-the-system veterans in place around the spot.
What Are Bears’ Options for Replacing Drew Dalman?
While the Bears likely did not imagine they would need to find a new center when they wrapped up their 2025 season, they have some solid options for replacing Dalman.
In free agency, Tyler Linderbaum, a 26-year-old who made three Pro Bowls for the Baltimore Ravens over his first four seasons, stands out as the clear best center on the market. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported after the Dalman news broke that the team had been “sniffing around” Linderbaum’s market, but it is unclear if they want to spend the necessary money — as estimates are near or exceeding $20 million annually.
Alternatively, the Bears could explore other quality veterans with starting experience in free agency, such as Connor McGovern or Tyler Biadasz. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears already brought in Biadasz for a visit on Tuesday afternoon.
The Bears also have the option of seeking out a new starting center in the 2026 NFL draft; although, it is unclear whether they would want a rookie center jumping right into the starting shoes after how many veteran responsibilities that Dalman carried.
Florida’s Jake Slaughter and Iowa’s Logan Jones are potential mid-round options who would fit head coach Ben Johnson’s offensive scheme. Even if the Bears are hesitant about wheeling a rookie out on Day 1, a short-term veteran signing could bridge the gap for them and buy them enough time to ensure their rookie is ready to play full-time.
Bears Could Take Drastic Measure After Drew Dalman Retirement