Drew Dalman’s unexpected retirement reshapes the Bears’ financial outlook, freeing up significant cap space in 2026 — but not without dead money and a new hole to fill at center.
Chicago Bears fans were hit with shocking news on Tuesday afternoon that significantly alters the outlook for the team’s offseason.
Bears center Drew Dalman, who shined in 2025 and made the first Pro Bowl of his career after signing a three-year, $42 million free-agent contract, has informed the team that he is retiring from the NFL.
Dalman is just 27 years old and appeared to be entering his prime following a standout 2025 season for a competitive team with Super Bowl aspirations. Nobody saw this coming. The decision likely reflects Dalman prioritizing his long-term health after football, even if it means sacrificing years of his playing career and the significant money that would have come with it.
It also puts the Bears in a difficult position.
Chicago already has several needs on the defensive side of the ball, and the team is searching for a new starting left tackle in 2026 following Ozzy Trapilo’s knee injury in the playoff win over the Packers. Trapilo ruptured his patellar tendon and is expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2026 season while recovering.
The offensive line was the first area Ben Johnson and the Bears addressed last offseason. It’s foundational to Johnson’s system and everything Chicago built in 2025. One of the biggest reasons for optimism surrounding the Bears was the stability they had created up front.
Now, they must replace two starters at two critical positions.
If you’re a Bears fan searching for a silver lining, you’re probably wondering what this means for the salary cap.
The Bears needed to clear cap space before the new league year begins on March 11, and they will still need additional flexibility if they hope to make a legitimate splash in free agency. Dalman’s retirement does provide some relief — just not a complete reset.
Here’s how it breaks down.
Dalman was scheduled to carry a $14 million cap hit in 2026. That figure included $11 million in base salary, $2 million in prorated signing bonus, and $1 million in additional roster bonuses.
Although $9.5 million of his $11 million base salary was guaranteed, that money will be forfeited upon retirement. The Bears are no longer responsible for paying that base salary, and they also avoid the $1 million in roster bonuses that would have been due.
The signing bonus, however, remains on the books...at least, for now.
Dalman received a $6 million signing bonus when he signed the contract, which was prorated evenly over three years at $2 million per season. The Bears were scheduled to carry $2 million in 2026 and $2 million in 2027. With Dalman retiring, the remaining prorated amounts accelerate onto the 2026 cap.
That means Chicago will carry $4 million in dead money for Dalman in 2026.
The net result: roughly $10 million in cap savings compared to the original $14 million cap hit. The Bears will not owe any cap charges for Dalman in 2027.
If the Bears manage to rescind the $4 million of Dalman's $6 million signing bonus that has not yet hit the salary cap, the Bears would not get salary cap relief for that this season as that would start to come next season.
Regardless, Chicago is now under the salary cap, though only by a few million dollars. More moves will still be necessary in the coming days if the Bears want enough financial flexibility to be aggressive in free agency. Contract restructures, veteran cuts, or trades remain possible options.
And, of course, there’s the football side of this.
The Bears now need a starting center. And that won't come free.
If they choose to sign a veteran replacement, that’s another expense that wasn’t part of the plan before Tuesday’s shocking announcement. What once looked like a position of strength has suddenly become one of the most pressing questions of the offseason.