Chicago Bears safety Drew Dalman shockingly announced his retirement at the age of 27. Dalman was the fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He spent the first four years of his career with the Falcons.
In 2025, the Chicago Bears signed Dalman to a three-year, $42 million deal. He made an immediate impact on the team, helping the Bears improve their record from last season to securing the top spot in the NFC North.
This will be considered the peak of his five-year career, but Dalman felt like it was time for him to step away from the game. The news of his retirement sent shockwaves across the Chicago Bears fanbase.
Quarterback Caleb Williams didn’t see it coming either, and he posted an emotional one-word message on X. “Hulk…,” he wrote with a smiling face with a tear emoji. Fans responded to Williams’ post, expressing their shock.
“Caleb we’re in shambles,” a fan wrote.
“Why the hell did he retire????” a fan wrote.
“He better be retiring for health issues bc if not then that’s js some lame stuff,” a fan wrote.
“Caleb Williams realizing he’s about to run it back with the same offensive line from his rookie year,” a fan wrote.
“Whatever you did to this man to make him retire at 27 coming off a pro bowl year, you need to make it right, Caleb,” a fan wrote.
“Clearly he didn’t like something about CW….The truth will come out, always does,” a fan wrote.
All we have right now are theories on why Dalman decided to retire so early. While most of the theories are worth discarding, there is one that makes a lot of sense.
Why Did Drew Dalman Retire?
As lucrative as it is to be a football player, the job comes with some serious health concerns that players are left to deal with after retirement. Dealing with CTE is one of the biggest concerns that some players have.
As per Carmen Vitali, this should be seen as Dalman’s decision to protect his future. Vitali stated that Dalman is a very smart man, went to Stanford, and has seen the negative impacts of a football career up close.
“The notion that I got from people close to the situation was … listen, his dad was a player. His dad was a coach. He has seen what this game can do to you in your life after football, and for better or for worse, this man is a Stanford man. He’s very, very smart. He knows what that toll can be. He’s seen it first hand,” Vitali said.
The Bears didn’t want him to step away, as he was one of the main reasons behind their success last season. However, if that’s the reason why Dalman is stepping away, he should be appreciated for having such clarity about his future.
Read More:
Arch Manning Blamed for “Worst QB Class” at NFL Draft as Cam Newton Launches Tirade
Is Mike Evans A Free Agent? Insider Names $5.95Bn Destination As Favorite For Bucs Star
Top 5 NFL Running Back Free Agents Along With Projected Landing Spots Ft. Rico Dowdle
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
