Drew Dalman Bio
Drew Brazil Dalman (born October 15, 1998) is an American professional football center who played five seasons in the National Football League (NFL). A Salinas, California native, Dalman starred at Stanford University before the Atlanta Falcons selected him in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. After four seasons with the Falcons, he signed with the Chicago Bears in March 2025. Dalman was named to the Pro Bowl following his 2025 season with the Bears, recognizing his standout performance as one of the league’s top centers.
Early Life and Background
Drew Brazil Dalman grew up in Salinas, California, where his athletic ability was evident from an early age. His father, Chris Dalman, played in the NFL as an offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers, giving Drew a direct connection to professional football and valuable family insight into what it takes to succeed at the sport’s highest level. This family legacy in football helped shape Drew’s understanding of the game and his aspirations from childhood.
Dalman attended Palma High School in Salinas, where he developed into a promising offensive line prospect. His performance in high school attracted attention from college programs across the country, setting the stage for his next chapter in football.
Path to American Football
Dalman was ranked as a three-star recruit out of high school and drew offers from multiple Division I programs, including Arizona, Colorado, Fresno State, Michigan, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming. He ultimately chose to follow in his father’s footsteps by committing to Stanford University on August 30, 2016. The decision allowed him to play close to home while continuing the family’s football tradition at the collegiate level.
At Stanford, Dalman developed into one of the conference’s most dominant interior offensive linemen. Over four seasons, he started 22 of 25 games, primarily at center with two appearances at guard. His senior season in 2020 proved remarkable, as he did not allow a single pressure while helping anchor an offensive line that did not surrender a single sack during the entire campaign. Dalman earned first-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors and was named team captain, reflecting both his on-field excellence and leadership qualities. He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering while maintaining a 3.61 grade point average and earned CoSIDA Academic All-America recognition for his classroom achievements.
Drew Dalman Career
Early Career (2021)
The Atlanta Falcons selected Dalman with the 114th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract with Atlanta on June 17, 2021. As a rookie, Dalman worked behind veteran offensive linemen, gaining experience and adjusting to the speed and complexity of professional football while contributing on special teams and in practice.
His first season in the NFL provided a foundation for development, as he learned the intricacies of the Falcons’ offensive system and refined his technique under professional coaching.
Atlanta Falcons Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Dalman earned the starting center job entering the 2022 season and held the position for three consecutive years. His consistency and reliability in the middle of the offensive line became a hallmark of the Falcons’ front. Over his four seasons with Atlanta, Dalman appeared in 57 games with 52 starts, developing into a dependable presence who helped protect quarterbacks and establish the running game.
His tenure with the Falcons allowed him to establish himself as a capable NFL center, gaining valuable experience in a starting role while continuing to hone the skills that made him successful at Stanford.
Chicago Bears Era (2025–Present)
On March 13, 2025, Dalman signed a three-year contract worth $42 million with the Chicago Bears. The deal represented a significant step in his career, establishing him as a foundational piece of Chicago’s offensive line rebuild. His arrival brought veteran experience and proven reliability to a position that had struggled in previous seasons.
Dalman’s impact was immediate and substantial. He was named to the Pro Bowl following the 2025 season after allowing just one sack and only 21 total pressures across the campaign. His steady presence at center helped stabilize an offensive line that surrendered 68 sacks in 2024 but improved dramatically to just 24 sacks allowed in 2025. The Bears’ offense showed marked improvement in pass protection and consistency, providing better support for quarterback Caleb Williams throughout the season.
On March 3, 2026, Dalman announced his retirement from professional football after five seasons, a decision that came as a surprise to many given his strong performance in his first year with the Bears. Multiple outlets noted the timing of his departure following a career-best season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dalman was known for his technical proficiency, football intelligence, and consistency as an interior offensive lineman. His ability to read defenses and make pre-snap adjustments at the center position allowed him to identify blitzes and stunts effectively. His clean technique and footwork enabled him to handle speed rushers on the edge and powerful defenders in the interior. His mechanical engineering background at Stanford contributed to his analytical approach to the position, helping him diagnose defensive schemes quickly and communicate adjustments to teammates along the offensive line.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Dalman’s career came with his Pro Bowl selection following the 2025 season, validating his performance as one of the league’s top centers in his debut campaign with the Bears. His $42 million contract with Chicago represented a significant milestone, rewarding years of consistent play and establishing him among the highest-paid centers in the NFL at the time. His remarkable senior season at Stanford, when he did not allow a single pressure while helping the Cardinal’s offensive line achieve a zero-sack season, also stood as a career highlight that foreshadowed his professional success.
Drew Dalman Career Wins
Dalman’s career included notable accomplishments at both the collegiate and professional levels, with recognition from conference honors to league-wide distinction.
Professional Highlights
Dalman earned his first Pro Bowl selection following the 2025 season with the Chicago Bears, a milestone that capped a career-best individual campaign. Over five NFL seasons, he appeared in 74 games with 57 starts, demonstrating durability and reliability at the center position. His transition from Atlanta to Chicago proved successful, as he quickly became one of the league’s top-rated centers and a central figure in the Bears’ offensive improvement.
College Highlights
At Stanford, Dalman earned first-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors in 2020 and second-team recognition in 2019. His senior season performance, when he allowed zero pressures while helping the team achieve a zero-sack season, represented one of the most dominant individual campaigns by an offensive lineman in the conference that year. He also received Academic All-America honors for his classroom achievements while majoring in mechanical engineering.
Drew Dalman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Dalman’s football lineage runs deep in his family, with his father Chris Dalman having played as an offensive lineman in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers. This family connection to professional football provided Drew with firsthand knowledge of what it takes to reach the NFL and maintain a successful career. Following his father’s path, Drew committed to Stanford University, where Chris had previously played, continuing the family’s connection to the program.
The Dalman family’s involvement in football extended beyond Chris, as Drew’s sister Kate served as an operations and recruiting assistant for the Stanford football program, further establishing the family’s deep ties to the sport.
Personal Life
Beyond football, Dalman pursued academic excellence at Stanford, majoring in mechanical engineering while maintaining a 3.61 grade point average. His combination of athletic and academic achievement demonstrated his ability to balance the demands of Division I football with rigorous coursework. His analytical skills developed through engineering studies translated to his approach on the field, where diagnostic ability and technical precision proved valuable assets throughout his career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a breakout campaign for Dalman with the Chicago Bears. After signing his lucrative three-year contract in March, he immediately demonstrated why the organization invested heavily in him by anchoring the offensive line with consistent, high-level play. His communication skills and pre-snap recognition helped the entire unit function more cohesively, contributing to a dramatic reduction in sacks allowed compared to the previous season.
Dalman’s individual performance earned him a Pro Bowl selection, validating his standing as one of the league’s premier centers. His ability to shut down opposing pass rushers, allowing just one sack across the entire season, showcased the technical excellence and consistency that defined his career. The Bears’ offense benefited from his presence, providing their quarterback with improved protection and stability up front.
Looking ahead, Dalman’s retirement announcement on March 3, 2026, brought his five-season NFL career to a close. Despite the surprising timing following his Pro Bowl campaign, his body of work established him as a durable, reliable center who elevated every offensive line he joined. His career trajectory from Stanford standout to Pro Bowl performer represented a successful journey that fulfilled the promise shown during his college career.