The Chicago Bears are back at it, retooling their offensive line after a successful 2025 season. With center Drew Dalman announcing his retirement just a year after joining from the Atlanta Falcons, the Bears needed a new anchor in the middle. Enter Garrett Bradbury, acquired through a trade with the New England Patriots.
Bradbury, who passed his physical and was formally introduced to the Bears, has already started building chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams. The two spent the weekend together, and Bradbury came away impressed.
"I’ve heard great things about him, and that reaffirmed everything that I’ve heard. He’s an awesome guy, he’s obviously an awesome player, so I’m looking forward to getting to work with him and helping him any way I can and learning from him as well," Bradbury shared, as reported by Chris Emma of 670 The Score.
This endorsement from Bradbury is music to the ears of Bears fans, eager to see what the future holds with Williams at the helm. Bradbury’s journey to Chicago began with the Minnesota Vikings, who drafted him in the first round in 2019. After his release in 2025, he joined the Patriots, serving as the starting center for quarterback Drake Maye.
During his stint with New England, Bradbury showed resilience, allowing 20 pressures on 1,070 snaps without a single penalty, according to Pro Football Focus. In the playoffs, from the Wild Card Round to Super Bowl 60, he allowed nine pressures and two sacks over 264 snaps.
The Bears, needing to act swiftly after Dalman's unexpected retirement, traded a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Patriots for Bradbury. They’re hoping he brings stability and strength to the heart of their offensive line, setting the stage for another promising season.