The Chicago Bears decided not to run it back following a disappointing 2025 NFL season. They were the only team in the NFC North to not make the playoffs, resulting in plenty of offseason changes.
Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams shone in moments, but that was not enough for general manager Ryan Poles to retain head coach Matt Eberflus. Chicago fired Eberflus midseason at the end of November, signaling the start of many changes to come.
The Bears brought in the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator knowing he was one of the best options for Chicago and Williams going forward. Ben Johnson was named the new head coach of the Bears shortly after Super Bowl LIX.
Poles then made a pair of trades to open up the offseason in order to improve on one of the NFL's worst offensive lines last year. Chicago made deals to acquire Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs and Jonah Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams.
Both of those teams have won a Super Bowl this decade; something that the Bears are hoping to do, as well. That's why Chicago upgraded the center position, too.
They signed four-year veteran Drew Dalman away from the Atlanta Falcons for three years and $42 million. The contract comes with a base salary of $14 million for 2025 and $26.5 million in guarantees between now and 2027.
"[Drew Dalman] was definitely someone who was the very, very top of our list."
Ryan Poles, GM of the Chicago Bears
Bears Might Regret Signing C Drew Dalman in Free Agency
Dalman was drafted 114th overall by the Falcons in 2021, playing his first two seasons without missing a game. He became the full-time starting center for Atlanta in 2022; however, injuries affected his durability as the former Stanford Cardinal missed three games in 2023 and 11 games last season.
The 6'3'' and 305-pound athlete will turn 28 years old mid-season, meaning he should have some juice left in the tank. The Bears did not spend one of their eight draft picks last month on another center, further proving how much they need him to succeed. Doug Kramer Jr. and Luke Newman are listed on the depth chart behind Dalman.
In the nine games that the center played in for the Falcons last year, Dalman put up tremendous numbers. He allowed just two sacks and only 10 quarterback pressures. However, Atlanta isn't in the NFC North.
The competition is tougher for the Bears than it is for the Falcons. Chicago plays the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, and the Minnesota Vikings twice every season. Of the top ten teams in sacks last year, Dalman's new team will face five of them.
The Bears will also play the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have T.J. Watt, known for his ability to take down opposing quarterbacks, on their defense. The same could be said about Maxx Crosby for the Las Vegas Raiders as well as Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers, two more teams Chicago will face in 2025.
A lot is riding on the offensive line if the Chicago Bears hope to return to the playoffs. Spending $14 million in 2025 on Dalman may be a stretch given his injury history. It will be a tall order for the newly acquired center to recreate last year's stat line.
Regardless of how he does, Dalman still gets $28 million guaranteed from the Bears. That's probably a gamble that might have Chicago scratching their heads if it backfires.
