Drew Dalman RETIRES from the Chicago Bears

Summary

Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: Drew Dalman RETIRES from the Chicago Bears
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola (A & B)
Date: March 3, 2026

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Main Theme:

A breaking news episode analyzing the sudden retirement of Drew Dalman, the Chicago Bears’ starting center, at age 27—just one year into a major contract. Dan and Matt discuss the significant impacts on the Bears roster, salary cap, draft strategy, and speculate on the team’s next steps, while expressing genuine concern for Dalman's wellbeing.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Drew Dalman’s Abrupt Retirement (00:53)

• The retirement was announced only 30 minutes before the show; both hosts are clearly stunned by the news.

• Dalman had recently signed a 3-year, $42 million contract, with $13 million as a signing bonus and $28 million guaranteed.

  “The 27-year-old Bears center has announced his retirement after just signing a three year, $42 million contract last year. So that's that.”
  — Dan (A) [00:53]

• The decision leaves the Bears without a starting center and left tackle, only weeks before a draft focused heavily on defense.

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2. Impact on Roster Construction & Offensive Line (01:33)

• The Bears now have notable gaps at both center and left tackle positions.

• Speculation on possible replacements from within (Luke Newman, Theo Benedict), but both hosts express skepticism about relying solely on internal development.

  "You have two holes in your offensive line and you do not have a starting center or a starting left tackle at this point in the building and just weeks away from the draft..."
  — Matt (B) [01:33]

  “You're not doing that, are you? I mean, you're not.”
  — Dan (A) questioning relying on in-house options [07:36]

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3. Free Agency & Replacement Options (02:14, 08:52)

• They review available free agent centers: Lloyd Cushenberry, Tyler Biadasz (visiting Hallas Hall the same day), James Daniels, Connor McGovern, Graham Glasgow, Ethan Pocic, Ryan Bates, Cade Mays.

• Tyler Linderbaum (Ravens) is highlighted as a personal favorite of Dan’s for outside zone schemes.

• Discussion about how the visit from Biadasz may indicate the Bears were already aware of Dalman’s situation.

  “The fact that he [Biadasz] was already up at Halas hall today tells you that they had some advanced warning of this...”
  — Dan (A) [08:52]

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4. Salary Cap Fallout (02:14)

• Dalman’s retirement results in a $9 million dead cap hit due to unamortized bonuses, but removes future cap liabilities.
• The hosts stress this is a short-term pain for a long-term gain: “You don't get total relief here...you get a big dead cap charge. It's a short term pain for a longer term gain, correct is what it sounds like.”
  — Dan (A) [02:14]

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5. Personal Wellbeing & Why Dalman Walked Away (04:18, 05:09)

• Both hosts express sincere concern and hope that Dalman retired on his own terms, not due to health or another crisis.

• There are no inside reports suggesting a medical issue; the news came out of the blue.

  “I hope he's okay. I really do. I, I hope there isn't any... regarding his health, his family's health...I hope this is his choice.”
  — Dan (A) [04:18]

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6. Caleb Williams’ Reaction & Center-QB Chemistry (05:55, 06:47)

• Bears’ QB Caleb Williams called Dalman “Hulk” in a social media post after the news broke, using a smiling (with a tear) emoji that the hosts overanalyze, humorously.

  “Obviously he had just talked about his relationship with Dahlman being important to him. Remember, the center is...critical to what Ben Johnson does.”
  — Dan (A) [06:47]

• They stress the importance of a veteran center for the team’s new offensive scheme.

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7. Draft Possibilities & Evaluating Prospects (09:46–12:11)

• No major center prospects had been scouted yet; attention turns to the likes of Logan Jones (Iowa), Jake Slaughter (Florida), Connor Lou (Arizona), Sam Hecht (Kansas State), Parker Brailsford.

• Dan is skeptical an unproven rookie would be trusted in 2026; the likelihood is a project for future seasons.

  “I just don't know if they're going to be trusting that to somebody who hasn't seen NFL defenses in, in this particular year. Wow.”
  — Dan (A) [11:41]

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8. Outlook & Next Steps for the Bears (11:17–12:11, 12:11)

• Bears face critical decisions with two-fifths of their offensive line suddenly unresolved.

• The possibility that Biadasz could sign soon; the team must pivot roster and draft strategies, potentially rebalancing between defense and offensive line needs.

• The hosts reassure listeners that coverage will continue as news unfolds.

  "This is completely unexpected. I had not heard anything...I don't know what the Bears knew."
  — Dan (A) [10:15]

  “Nobody knew this was coming and we’re going to deal with it with every bit of information that comes out. Hell, by the time we record tomorrow’s pod, the Bears might have an agreement with Tyler Beatish...”
  — Dan (A) [12:11]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We just wanted to pop on. We just wanted to say we saw it. We're aware...this incredibly surprising news that Drew Dahlman at age 27 going into the second year of his Bears contract has opted to retire.”
  — Dan (A) [12:11]

• “That's the most important thing, that we hope that he's okay and that there isn't any kind of emergent reason for him doing this.”
  — Dan (A) [12:25]

• Matt’s summary:

  "Yeah, exactly. So this is Forward Progress. We will talk to you again tomorrow..." [13:31]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:53 – Breaking news: Dalman retires; recap of contract
• 01:33 – Immediate offensive line implications & draft context
• 02:14 – Salary cap breakdown & free agent overview
• 04:18 – Personal concern for Dalman’s wellbeing
• 05:55 – Caleb Williams reacts; center-QB relationship
• 08:52 – Free agent Tyler Biadasz visiting; was the team prepared?
• 09:46 – Early draft prospect names
• 11:17 – O-line depth chart reality & scouting details
• 12:11 – What’s next for the Bears; reassurance for fans

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Summary

Dan and Matt’s urgent, unfiltered episode captures the shock of Drew Dalman’s early retirement and breaks down what it means for the Bears moving forward, with both concrete information and authentic emotional responses—balancing analysis, roster speculation, and fan-level concern for a beloved player. Listeners are left with open questions, a sense of the challenge now facing the team, and the promise of ongoing coverage as the story develops.

Transcript

[A]

The what's your Mount Rushmore? Podcast. The topic workplace sitcoms. My final pick goes against me disagreeing with your favorite band from the 90s TLC. Oh, you don't like them? I love them but they, they didn't want Scrubs. But I do.

[B]

I'm putting scrubs on my Mount Rushmore there.

[A]

Oh, you sneaky little bastard.

[B]

You sneaky, busty.

[A]

What's your Mount Rushmore?

[B]

I don't know.

[A]

Listen, wherever you get podcasts,

[B]

I mean, if you're a Bears fan, you're thinking Forward progress.

[A]

Come on.

[B]

10. 219. 219. Forward progress a Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abaticola on 312 Sports.

[A]

Well, it is a special live edition of Forward Progress as we're just reeling from this that just broke half an hour ago. Perhaps that Drew Dahlman, the 27 year old Bears center has announced his retirement after just signing a three year, $42 million contract last year. So that's that. The the former Stanford Cardinal is hanging him up. And not only does this hamstring the Bears as far as their current talent pursuits go, but boy, this is, this is bad relative to the salary cap.

[B]

Yeah, it certainly is an unexpected announcement today. So it does have some serious cap implications as well as now from my perspective, you have two holes in your offensive line and you do not have a starting center or a starting left tackle at this point in the building and just weeks away from the draft that is concentrating on and focused on defensive positions. You have now have got to identify, find out where they're coming from and fill center and left tackle. As far as I'm concerned, center is a definite left. Left tackle is my my was my priority going into this off season.

[A]

Wow, wow, wow. If you look at the available centers right now as far as who the free agents are, I'm just looking at the list in front of me. Lloyd Cushionberry, Taylor, I don't know how to pronounce his last name. From the commanders who I believe was already visiting the Bears and maybe their it's B I A D A S Z. James Daniels, the former bear, Connor McGovern, Graham Glasgow, Ethan Pochic, Ryan, Ryan Bates, Cade Mays. And then down there is Tyler Linderbaum and that would be. He would be fairly high on my list. I'm a huge Tyler Linderbaum fan. I know not everybody is. I happen to be a big fan of his, especially in the outside zone game. And now you're going to have to start looking at potential draft picks as well who are outside zone specialist centers. Let's just run down the numbers here. Dahlman's contract had a $13 million signing bonus and 28 million guaranteed. And the, there is the bonus proration that spread out over the three years. But this is, this acts like a release as I understand it correctly. So now while his base salary will come off the books, the remaining signing bonus proration, now the unamortized bonus is all part of this year's cap. So that would be what? 9 million in bonus that is now dead cap. And it's all right now. So you don't get total relief here. You get, you get a big dead cap charge, you get nothing on the books for next year and then you are going to have some sort. It's a short term pain for a longer term gain. Correct is what it sounds like. And again I'm just trying to figure this all out as we're talking here because this is also before we get any further and this is my fault. I hope he's okay. I hope he's okay. I really do. I, I hope there isn't any acute information or issue anything regarding his health, his family's health. I should have said that at the start but we're sort of consumed with the, the Bears excitement of this and, and, and interest and, and all of the, everything that's happening here. But, but I just, I want to be really clear. I hope Drew Dahlman is okay and I hope this is his choice. I hope he is walking away from football according to his terms and he's not being forced to do this by anything medical or anything untoward or unforeseen that is going on elsewhere in his life.

[B]

Yeah, I echo those, those thoughts there. Obviously. You know, I think if there was maybe, I mean maybe not but if there was, if there was more to it, I think some of the NFL insiders that would be around the situation might have a little more information than just announcing that Drew Dahlman is, is going to retire. There certainly has not been anything made public in the last several weeks here since the season did end. This kind of just came out of, out of left field that he was going to retire. So yeah, I agree with you. Obviously that's, that goes without saying that to Hope he and his family are just fine and that this is just a football decision based on not wanting to play the game anymore.

[A]

And that's okay and good for him.

[B]

Certainly is okay. Yeah, that's what he gets to do. Sure.

[A]

I did see that Caleb Williams did put A post out. I'm not sure if it was on Twitter or elsewhere that has made its way around. It had a, a smiley face emoji with a tear, and it said, like, Hulk, I'll get it in front of me. But he was just lamenting the departure of the guy that he refers to as Hulk.

[B]

Yeah, no, that's a, that's a sad face. A sad emoji face with a tear.

[A]

So are you sure? Because I thought it had a smile. I, I, I, I, I thought I looked at that carefully. I may have looked wrong. I just want to make sure that he was. Because there's, there's two different emojis there.

[B]

Oh, yeah, it is a smile.

[A]

It is.

[B]

Pulled it up. Yeah, it's a smile with a, a tear. So, so if it was something, it was something, you know, out of his control. I don't think the starting quarterback would put the smiley face, but who knows?

[A]

That's what I was thinking either. But I hate doing emoji amateur psychology on some of this stuff. But obviously he had just talked about his relationship with Dahlman being important to him. Remember, the center is, is critical to what Ben Johnson does. And as far as identifying the coverages, helping out with the, with the, how they slide the protections, it's a huge job. And my guess is they're not going to go with a rookie.

[B]

No, they're not going to go with a rookie. But I mean, you do currently have what you have Luke Newman on your roster. You have Theo Benedict that can be slated in as your left tackle. So that could be your offensive line going forward and you can coach him up and get them ready.

[A]

That. No, you're not doing that, are you? I mean, you're not.

[B]

That's, that's, it's, it didn't sound like, you know, even when I thought you needed to look at the left tackle position, that they weren't going to go out in free agency or the draft to address that, that where they were going to work with what they have in the building and coach it up. Where Braxton Jones could be a viable option as far as a free agent is concerned, is bringing back your guy. Theo Benedict, who did have some playing time. Luke Newman, who has been in the building and was there all last season with the coaching staff.

[A]

I don't know.

[B]

You know, they've put such a priority out there. And everyone who covers the team. This isn't just our speculation. Everyone who covers the team has the Bears looking defensively in at least the first three picks of the draft. So I don't know if you're going to alter that completely because you don't have your starting center any longer or you have the guy in the building that you think you could coach up to be a center between, you know, Jonah Jackson and, and, and, and Joe Tunney and that having those two guys at guard makes your, your right side is, is, is set with Darnell Wright and Jonah Jackson. And having a center in between those two guards improves his play along with the left tackle next to Joe Tuney. I don't know, I don't know how, how they'll address it.

[A]

So according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, he says the Bears are indeed hosting for a visit. Washington released him so he could sign before the league year starts. He could sign right now, before the 11th. And he was a Cowboys fourth round pick in 2020 out of Wisconsin. He just finished out a contract that was four years, 3.1 million and he had a $500,000 signing bonus. He signed a three year deal worth up to 30 million in March of 2024 with the commanders and he was released after this year. I don't know if he is a zone run specialist, but the fact that he was already up at Hallis hall today tells you that they had some advanced warning of this. It would be my guess. Unless it's just coincidental.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. I guess we'll find out after, after more information comes, comes available to the public. And as far as the draft is concerned, the only guy I've even looked at because I wasn't even looking at at center was the kid out of Iowa. I think Logan Jones or Logan, Logan Jones is his name. I mean he could be, he could be a day three pick that has some potential to eventually become a starter in the NFL. I don't know. We'll see what they want to do with that as well. I think a spot I have to look at more so.

[A]

Well, I mean, geez, it always seems like we do, but yeah. Jake Slaughter is the number one ranked center. Okay. Connor Lou is number two and Sam Hecht is ranked third. Okay. So it would. What we have to know then is who is running outside zone and who's got those kind of skills and those kind of movement skills as well as the, the wherewithal and the understanding to be able to process NFL stuff. So it's Florida's Jake Slaughter, Arizona's Connor Louis. That looks like Kansas State. Sam Hecht who's 64303 Parker Brailsford, Logan Jones of Iowa is 63299 and he ran a pretty impressive 4 9. So we shall see, man. But this is completely unexpected. I had not heard anything about, you know, any rumblings that he was even thinking about this. I don't know what the Bears knew,

[B]

but

[A]

I wish I had a stronger thought on it. I just, I now, now you've got 2/5 of your offensive line that need repairing.

[B]

That are question marks.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Logan Jones did a sub eight three cone drill, a sub five 20 yard shuttle. Yeah, that four nine 40. It's a pretty quick mover there for a 300 pound lineman.

[A]

I like it too. I just don't know if they're going to be trusting that to somebody who hasn't seen NFL defenses in, in this particular year. Wow.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And maybe that's just, that's a project behind Luke Newman at center and, and you bring a guy up a little bit and could be a, a day three pick with the projection of playing not for, you know, this year but for 2027 high athleticism score too. 87, geez, that's pretty high. I told you in those, those breakdowns that 90 to 100 is, is elite. Okay, 87, that's super high.

[A]

Yeah. And often when you see super highly ranked centers, you wonder why they ended up at that position or you want to see the history of how they've moved around the line to get them to center and what the experience is at that point. But this. Obviously nobody knew this was coming and we're going to deal with it with every bit of information that comes out. Hell, by the time we record tomorrow's pod, the Bears might have, might have an agreement with Tyler Beatish, who's, who's there right now and maybe, yeah, who knows, maybe that was the plan all along. But we just wanted to pop on. We just wanted to say we saw it. We're aware if you're with us live right now or if you're just kind of grabbing this after the fact as an adjunct to the previous pod that we posted. All cool, but we will be ready to go with you tomorrow and have all of the latest information on this incredibly surprising news that Drew Dahlman at age 27 going into the second year of his Bears contract has opted to retire. And we certainly hope that he is doing this just because he wanted to and because he had the opportunity to make a clear headed decision to do this on his terms. That's the most important thing, that we hope that he's okay and that there isn't any kind of emergent reason for him doing this.

[B]

Yeah, exactly. So this is Forward Progress. We will talk to you again tomorrow with Dan Bernstein unfiltered and another edition of Forward Progress right here on 312 Sports Ford.

[A]

Progress has stopped.

[B]

Forward Progress. Chicago Bears podcast with Dan Bernstein and Matt Abeticola on 31 2, sports.

[A]

All right. With Verbocare. Help is always ready before, during and after your stay. We've planned for the plot twists, so support is always available because a great trip starts with peace of mind.