Drew Dalman Bio
Drew Brazil Dalman (born October 15, 1998) is an American former professional football center who played in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons. He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal and was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Dalman later joined the Chicago Bears in free agency, where he earned his first career Pro Bowl selection before retiring from the league in March 2026.
Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and listed at 301 lb (137 kg), Dalman built his reputation on disciplined line play, leadership, and intelligence at the center position. He is the son of former San Francisco 49ers offensive lineman Chris Dalman, and he majored in mechanical engineering at Stanford while maintaining a strong academic record.
Early Life and Background
Drew Brazil Dalman was born on October 15, 1998, in Salinas, California. He grew up in the same region and attended Palma High School in Salinas, where he played football and developed into a college prospect at the center position.
Coming from a football family, Dalman was exposed to the sport at an early age through his father, Chris Dalman, who played in the NFL as an offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers. That background helped shape his understanding of the game, the expectations of professional football, and the work required to succeed at the offensive line.
Rated as a three-star recruit out of high school, Dalman drew scholarship offers from several programs including Arizona, Colorado, Fresno State, Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, and Yale. He ultimately chose to follow in his father’s footsteps by committing to Stanford, where his father had also played.
Path to American Football
Dalman committed to Stanford on August 30, 2016, choosing the Cardinal over a wide range of other suitors. He enrolled at Stanford University, where he balanced a demanding mechanical engineering major with a steady climb up the depth chart along the offensive line.
Over four seasons with the Stanford Cardinal, Dalman appeared in 25 games and made 22 starts, including 20 at center and two at guard. As a junior in 2019, he started all 12 games at center and earned second-team All-Pac-12 recognition. The following season, he was named a team captain and anchored a Stanford offensive line that did not allow a single sack all year.
His senior season cemented his reputation as one of the most technically sound centers in the Pac-12. Dalman did not allow a single pressure during the 2020 campaign and was named first-team All-Pac-12. He was also selected to the second-team CoSIDA Academic All-America team after posting a 3.61 grade point average in mechanical engineering.
Drew Dalman Career
Early Career (2021)
Dalman entered the NFL after being selected by the Atlanta Falcons 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, and joined a young offensive line in need of depth at the center position.
As a rookie, Dalman worked primarily as a backup and gained experience while adjusting to the speed and complexity of the professional game. His patience behind veteran players helped him build the foundation needed to compete for a starting role the following season.
Atlanta Falcons Breakthrough (2022–2024)
Dalman was named the Falcons’ starting center beginning with the 2022 season and held the role through 2024, establishing himself as a reliable presence in the middle of the offensive line. He brought consistency in both the run game and pass protection, anchoring a young offensive front during Atlanta’s rebuilding years.
Across his three seasons as the starter, Dalman started every game he appeared in at center and earned a reputation for his football intelligence and steady technique. His development turned a fourth-round selection into a long-term starter for the Falcons, and his work at the position helped stabilize Atlanta’s offensive line.
By the end of his run in Atlanta, Dalman had played in 74 career NFL games with 57 starts, numbers that reflected his durability and value to the team. His play during this period made him one of the more respected young centers in the league heading into free agency.
Chicago Bears Era (2025)
On March 13, 2025, Dalman signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Chicago Bears, joining the team as a featured free agent addition along the offensive line. The deal signaled a clear investment in the Bears’ trenches and a major new chapter for the veteran center.
Dalman’s first season in Chicago was a strong one, as he allowed just one sack and 21 pressures while helping to transform the Bears’ offensive line. After surrendering 68 sacks in 2024, Chicago’s offensive front gave up only 24 sacks in 2025, a dramatic improvement that coincided with Dalman’s arrival.
His performance during the 2025 campaign earned him a selection to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, his only career Pro Bowl honor. The recognition confirmed his standing among the top centers in the league and highlighted the impact of his signing on Chicago’s offensive identity.
Driving Style and Strengths
Drew Dalman is known for his disciplined technique, intelligence, and consistency at the center position. His background as a mechanical engineering major at Stanford reflects the analytical approach he brings to identifying defensive fronts, making line calls, and executing protections. He excels in both run blocking and pass protection, and his track record of limiting pressures made him a stabilizing force in the middle of the offensive line.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most notable moments of Dalman’s career was his 2020 senior season at Stanford, when he did not allow a single pressure and helped the Cardinal offensive line go an entire season without surrendering a sack. In the NFL, his standout achievement came with the 2025 Bears, when his play helped the offensive line cut its sack total from 68 to 24 and earned him his first Pro Bowl selection. He later announced his retirement from the NFL on March 3, 2026, after five professional seasons.
Drew Dalman Career Wins
While Drew Dalman’s value as an offensive lineman is measured less in traditional win totals and more in protection, durability, and awards, his career includes significant achievements at the college and professional levels. His accolades include a Pro Bowl selection, first-team All-Pac-12 honors, second-team All-Pac-12 recognition, and Academic All-America distinction. He also started at center for an offensive line that did not allow a sack during his senior season at Stanford.
Stanford Highlights
During his four seasons at Stanford, Dalman appeared in 25 games and made 22 starts, including 20 at center and two at guard. He was named second-team All-Pac-12 as a junior in 2019 and first-team All-Pac-12 as a senior in 2020, when he did not allow a single pressure. He was also selected to the second-team 2020–2021 CoSIDA Academic All-America team while majoring in mechanical engineering.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his college accolades, Dalman’s most prominent professional recognition came with the Chicago Bears in 2025, when he earned his only career Pro Bowl selection after allowing just one sack and 21 pressures. His performance helped the Bears offensive line reduce its sack total from 68 in 2024 to 24 in 2025, a major turnaround that highlighted his impact.
Drew Dalman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Dalman comes from a strong football family. His father, Chris Dalman, played in the NFL as an offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers and was part of the program’s tradition of producing professional linemen. Chris Dalman also played football at Stanford, a connection that helped shape Drew’s path to the Cardinal.
Personal Life
Dalman is the son of former San Francisco 49ers player Chris Dalman. He also has a sister named Kate, who previously served as the operations and recruiting assistant for the Stanford football program. The family ties to Stanford football run on both the playing and operational sides of the program.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Drew Dalman’s first year with the Chicago Bears after signing a three-year, $42 million contract on March 13, 2025. He stepped into the starting center role and immediately became a central figure in the team’s efforts to rebuild the offensive line. His veteran presence and technique helped bring stability to a unit that had struggled in prior seasons.
Dalman’s individual performance was a major bright spot of the Bears’ season, as he allowed just one sack and 21 pressures across the year. The Bears’ offensive line surrendered only 24 sacks in 2025, a sharp drop from the 68 given up in 2024, reflecting the impact of his arrival and his on-field communication. His level of play earned him a selection to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, his first and only career Pro Bowl nod.
Looking back at the 2025 campaign, Dalman delivered one of the best seasons of his career and helped reshape the perception of the Bears’ offensive front. Although he later announced his retirement from the NFL on March 3, 2026, his single season in Chicago stood as a defining chapter in his professional journey.
