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Sports Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | | |
| | | | | Good morning, Chicago. With the free-agency negotiating period just six days away, the Bears added an unexpected item to their to-do list. Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman has informed the team he is retiring at age 27, a source confirmed to the Tribune on Tuesday. Dalman has played five seasons in the NFL, including one with the Bears. He signed a three-year, $42 million free-agent contract with the team last March. Bears center Drew Dalman speaks while cleaning out his locker Jan. 19, 2026, at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) He started at center in all 17 regular-season games and both playoff games and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. He was the only Bears player to play every offensive snap in the 2025 season and was a big part of the offensive line revamping that the Bears executed last offseason. Dalman’s exit means
the Bears are searching for answers less than a week before free agency. The franchise had searched for a reliable center for years — pretty much since Olin Kreutz left the team after the 2010 season. For the team to finally find a Pro Bowl center, only for him to retire a year later, is a cruel twist. Today’s eNewspaper edition | Subscribe to more newsletters | Asking Eric | Horoscopes | Puzzles & Games | Today in History | | | | How likely are the Chicago Bears to trade DJ Moore — and could he be bundled in a blockbuster deal for Maxx Crosby? Brad Biggs answers your questions weekly. | | | | | Coach Shauna Green has no doubts Illinois is an NCAA Tournament team — but the Illini can help their case with a couple of Big Ten Tournament wins. | | | | | There are roster battles in camp that are starting to take shape, giving a little clarity on the Chicago Cubs’ direction for the 26-man roster together ahead of opening day on March 26. | | | | | The Chicago White Sox are stretching out a number of pitchers as they work to build their rotation. Sean Newcomb got the start Tuesday and allowed two runs on five hits with one strikeout and one walk in three innings. | | | | | For a handful of minutes in the second half of Tuesday’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Chicago Bulls seemed to be facing a worst-case scenario. | | | | | The Chicago Blackhawks took the lead in the third period, but Cole Perfetti forced the extra frame for the Winnipeg Jets, tying the game with just 38.6 seconds remaining. | | | |
