CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears didn’t let the shock of Drew Dalman’s retirement linger. Just days after their Pro Bowl center walked away from the game at 27, General Manager Ryan Poles pulled the trigger on a move to keep Caleb Williams upright. Chicago acquired veteran center Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick, signaling a clear intent to prioritize veteran stability over a rookie project.
The Wolfpack Reunion in the Windy City
Bradbury arrives in Chicago with 105 NFL starts and a built-in chemistry with the man standing to his immediate left. He spent two seasons at NC State playing alongside Bears All-Pro guard Joe Thuney. For a team that saw Williams’ sack total drop from a league-high 68 in 2024 to just 24 in 2025, maintaining that pocket integrity is the only thing that matters in head coach Ben Johnson’s second year. The Bears are banking on old-school rapport to mask any drop-off in individual grading.
While Bradbury’s 2025 campaign earned a modest 60.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking him 30th among centers, the Bears believe his experience in high-leverage situations outweighs the spreadsheets. He started every game for a Patriots team that reached Super Bowl LX last season. Now, he joins a Bears front that helped Williams rack up 3,942 passing yards and 27 touchdowns during their 11-6 NFC North title run.
“Spent two years with Joe in college. He’s a stud. It blows my mind that two teams have let that guy walk out of the building. He’s a pro, he handles everything the right way. I had some fun times with him in college… definitely excited to get back together with him.”
— Garrett Bradbury, Chicago Bears Center
What’s Next for the North Champions
Replacing Dalman is no small feat. The retired center was a top-five pass-blocker last year, allowing only one sack. Bradbury doesn’t need to be an All-Pro; he needs to be a conductor. With DJ Moore recently traded to Buffalo, the Bears’ offense is shifting. Ben Johnson wants a unit defined by physicality and pre-snap intelligence. By pairing Bradbury with a four-time Super Bowl winner like Thuney, the Bears have effectively built a “brain trust” in the middle of the trenches.
The move also preserves draft capital. By shipping off a distant fifth-rounder, Poles keeps his 2026 picks—including the second-rounder acquired from the Bills—available to address the vacancy at left tackle. For Caleb Williams, the message is loud: the front office will not let the 2024 protection nightmares return.
