(104.3 The Score) Fresh off a Pro Bowl honor in his first season in Chicago, Bears center Drew Dalman is set to retire in a stunning and unexpected development.
The 27-year-old Dalman has informed the Bears of his decision to retire, as Adam Schefter of ESPN first reported Tuesday. Dalman signed a three-year deal worth $42 million last March and proved to be an anchor for the Bears' offensive line. He's a five-year NFL veteran who has played 74 career games.
Neither Dalman nor his representatives had officially announced his retirement as of Tuesday afternoon. Dalman gave no indication of a potential retirement as he cleaned out his locker on Jan. 19.
“I don't think you can ever really count on, ‘Oh, we'll just do it next year,'" Dalman said of the Bears' success last season. "Certainly it sucks to come up short and you know the opportunity that you miss out on.
"We gave everything we had and you got to come back at it again next year and hope that with increased effort, increased focus, all those things that you'll push past that.”
Dalman played every snap for the Bears offense this past season. The Bears made him a priority in free agency last year in large part because they believed in his ability to connect with quarterback Caleb Williams, who just finished his second NFL season.
Williams lauded the work of Dalman late in their first season together.
"He's the brains and all of it," Williams said. "But when he gets out there and on the field, he's strong as can be, fast, and the right guy for the job for us and my future and our future here. So, I'm excited for that and I'm happy that he's here with us and with me, and we're going to keep growing together."
With Dalman out of the Bears' plans, the center position now becomes a key priority for Chicago as the starts of NFL free agency looms next week. The team has internal candidates to replace Dalman, though nobody near his level of play, and the Bears are sure to canvass the open market as well.
The Bears have already begun evaluating the market at center, sources said. The team is set to bring in free-agent center Tyler Biadasz for a visit Tuesday, NFL Media reported.
Biadasz, 28, was released by the Commanders and is free to sign at any point.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for TheScoreChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.