The Chicago Bears held a press conference to unveil two major free-agent additions, former Colts edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo and Falcons center Drew Dalman. Above all, addressing the lack of stability at center has been a pressing issue for what seems like forever in Chicago. Now that the Bears finally decided to shore up the position by signing Dalman to a massive three-year, $42 million deal, Ben Johnson dropped a heroic statement on the Bears new starting center.
Ben Johnson Drops Heroic Statement on Bears’ Center Drew Dalman
“He’s Going to Be the Quarterback of Our Offensive Line”
When asked about Drew Dalman, Ben Johnson emphasized his role as the “quarterback of the offensive line,” stating that he plans to put more responsibility on Dalman than he’s had in the past.
Leading the way.
pic.twitter.com/LqwxzZmSk4
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) March 13, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
If there’s one player who can handle it, it’s Dalman. A Stanford graduate, he has been praised for his intelligence and leadership. Joining Dalman in Chicago, longtime teammate Grady Jarrett spoke highly of his abilities:
“Working against him in Atlanta, he’s so smart.” Jarrett also highlighted Dalman’s ability to eject a three-technique as one of his strong suits. “His growth; the dude’s a beast, man. I’m happy that he’s gonna be here, and I think he’s going to bring a lot to this team.”
The Bears desperately need a guy like Dalman to come in and be a leader for the offense, and he’s no stranger to calling out protections either.
Drew Dalman calling out protections vs. Flores. He talks to both sides of the line before the ball is snapped pic.twitter.com/niKw0SRbfy
— NOT Ashton Jeanty’s Agent (@TommyK_NFLDraft) March 11, 2025
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Bears GM Ryan Poles on Drew Dalman
It feels good knowing I wasn’t the only one believing the Bears should go all-in for Drew Dalman. When asked about him, Ryan Poles said “he was definitely someone who was at the very, very top of our list.”
Both the free agent and draft class for centers were relatively weak. With the Bears desperately searching for an answer at the position, it felt like a no-brainer to be fully invested in making sure Dalman was a Bear once free agency started.
Besides only playing nine games last season, Dalman was the 4th rated center by PFF and allowed the fifth-lowest 1-on-1 pressure rate among centers last season. If only playing nine games isn’t enough, since 2023 Dalman is ranked 5th among all centers according to PFF with an 84.8 grade. Now, with Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson by his side, the potential for this offensive line is sky-high.
Drew Dalman’s Mamba Mentality
Drew Dalman understands the challenges of transitioning to a new team and isn’t taking anything for granted.
“I feel like my style—I have to prove myself. I’m entering the room as a stranger and I have to forge all of those relationships.”
It’s the right mindset to have. Despite what Dalman has been able to accomplish in his NFL career, going into a new environment takes time to mesh with the rest of the guys and figure out how you can become a leader. Fortunately, he’ll have Joe Thuney as a mentor. Dalman has already expressed his intent to learn as much as possible from the four-time Super Bowl champion, even joking that he plans to be “annoying” with his questions.
It feels like the Bears are assembling an “Avengers-level” offensive line. Time to see how they perform next season blocking for Caleb Williams, a huge reason why Dalman chose to sign with the Bears.
Main Image: David Banks – USA Today Sports
The post Bears HC Ben Johnson Drops Heroic Statement on Drew Dalman appeared first on Last Word on Pro Football.