Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Examining the Drew Dalman 'evidence locker room'

Episode Date: March 5, 2026

Leila Rahimi and Mark Grote discussed how retiring Bears center Drew Dalman had a big impact on the team.

We thank you for joining us. This is Rahimi, Harris, and Grotie on 1043 The Score. It is Mark Rody and Layla Rahimi in with you. And I think that you pulled a meat. Everybody does this. The receipts. Yeah. You went back in our, for lack of a better term, in our finding the wise,

we do want to know what happened and why Drew Dalman did decide to retire suddenly. We all started going back to things he may have said or, hints that we may have gotten from like a Ryan polls, for example, Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams, Drew Dalman himself. And Mark, as the Bears reporter, you did that. You want to take us inside what you called the evidence locker room. Yeah, absolutely. Ding, ding. The evidence locker room is in effect. And credit to my Take the North partners, Dan Weeder and Adams DZinsky. We did some of this on the TTN episode as well. And you're right. Like, And we discussed this.

Like we're not entitled to know what's going on with Drew Dalman. Maybe the bears are entitled to know, but we're certainly not entitled to know. But that doesn't mean we're not interested. That doesn't mean that we're not curious as to what happened. And it doesn't mean that we're not all working sources on the telephones going back and listening to audio and seeing if there's any clues or any hints because we all missed it. We all missed it, and we don't know exactly what happened. So let me present to you, Drew Dalman, on Locker Cleanout Day, to hear if there is anything that he was saying at that moment that might have led us or, one, to believe that he might have been thinking about what he did, and that was to retire at the age of 27 after one year of a three-year, $42 million deal.

I think we're really happy with the progress we've made and with the, with kind of the trajectory we're on, but I don't think anybody feels, like, satisfied with the finished product. I know this is your first year here, but this team has been looking for a franchise quarterback forever. What are your thoughts on Caleb being that guy, and what did you see from him all season? Yeah, I mean, I guess first and foremost,

awesome guy, great teammate, great to have around, all those things, and then, you know, like all this superlatives as a player, like, as an O-line, can't tell you the amount of times that he's helped us out when we've struggled, or make huge plays for the team to keep us in games or to win games. And so I don't think, I don't know what else you can ask for. Is there a sense that you guys are well positioned going forward,

but also it's hard to get as far as you guys got this year. As a veteran, do you have an appreciation for just kind of how close you were to advancing and do you think that might not, you more than a younger guy? You know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah. I think, yeah, I don't think you can ever really count on a little, just do it next year. Yeah, we'll be that.

You know, like that way of thing. So I think, yeah, certainly, like, it sucks to come up short, and you know the opportunity that you missed out on. But, yeah, I think that's one of those things,

like, we gave everything we had, and you got to come back again next year and hope that with increased effort, increased focus, all those things, that you'll push past that. Was that everything you thought he'd be when you decided to decide

your free agent? Yeah, I mean, I can't say I had, like, a super firm, notion of what it would be like anything. But I can definitely say Ben's an incredible coach, incredible football and great leader. And it's an absolutely pleasure to play.

So when I hear that, I don't hear anything that indicates at that point he was ready to talk about retirement yet. Or at least hint at it with people, even in a casual conversation with the media. Yeah. And he diluted to next year, not aggressively or anything like that.

You know, it wasn't like the theme was, We've got to get back out. Can't wait for OTAs and training camp, but there was an allusion to it. So it's just interesting, like going back and like maybe. Now watch the film. Where is that? Was there somewhere along the line that he got hurt? But really the point is, is even right there, it's something he could have alluded if he had wanted to.

If Drew Dalman didn't want to be in that locker room or didn't want to be made available, it would have been frustrating for reporters, but he would not have. had to have been there. So the fact that he was present, the fact that he wasn't afraid to talk about next year still leaves us in a mysterious position as to what the thought process was then and when this actually started. Yeah, because he actually, that's a valid point too, is he actually addressed the media. And that's not something that you guys had happened with every Bears player last year.

Notably, DJ Moore, I know you asked Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles about that, you know, and that was after a lot of discussion about the last play offensively that the Bears had this season. But Drew Dolman was there and he spoke up. And that didn't necessarily to me sound like somebody who was thinking about retirement. Now, he very well could have been, but at least publicly that was not the case. Yeah. And he is like one of these professionals, professional. You know what I mean?

Like just from being around him in the locker room, he was always there for open locker room. He was always available. if he wanted to talk to him. And when he did talk, he gave good answers. So this may have just been him being him and doing his job that he signed up for until the last very drop, even if he knew in the back of his head that he might not be back with the bears. So that's part of it as well. Well, and also just to that end, him doing his job or at least addressing media,

how many Bears players would you say actually like to talk to the media, like a percentage? Yeah, I don't know what the percentage is. Like they understand it's their responsibility. That's a great question. I don't know. But I don't necessarily know how many of them know that you know what I'm saying. Layla, that's a great question. I don't know if anybody in the locker room like actively is waiting for the microphones to come their way.

There are some that are better speakers and that are more into it and are more genuine in their answers than others. But off the top of my head, I can't think of one single player. that like really wanted the attention. And we probably don't know who those players are because we probably didn't talk to them as much. Like the players that maybe want, there will actually, all right, I'll give this up. There was one player in that locker room

that I regret not speaking to more because I think he wanted to talk more because I think he someday wants to get into the business. You want to know who that is? I don't think anybody would. He was a defensive lineman for the Bears. He played, he backed up most. Lee wasn't overly prominent.

His name was Chris Williams, the defensive lineman. And I had heard that he, you know, wants to be in this business someday and probably would have appreciated a little bit more mic time. But it just, it's tough when you're going to the locker room and you know you have priorities and you have a finite

amount of time. But I guess that is the one guy, I would say. And dang it. He signed a one-year deal. So we can't just try that again next season. And if he happens to pop back up, on the Bears roster, then maybe I will make it a point to bring more Chris Williams to the Rahimi Harris and Grotie show.

Maybe Tevin Jenkins. Maybe he enjoyed having the microphone. We know Cole Comette enjoys it, but I think that's just his personality. I think Kevin Jenkins embraced the challenge. I don't know if he embraced the challenge so much as he just has that personality. That's it. Well, like David Montgomery. Like David Montgomery would use it as an opportunity, but I don't necessarily know that he liked

it. No, he didn't. But he would do something when he was there. Yeah. You always knew something would be brought to the table. Yeah. I learned yesterday, okay, David Montgomery, who was, I would say with the collective media, David Montgomery was a little bit difficult because he liked to throw our crap back at us often. That's what I mean. And sometimes it came across as mean spirited, but then would be done with a smile. And he was always great. I was just talking about this with the weed man yesterday. He was...

Dan Weiderer, for those of you who want to know. And if you need something, if you know what I'm saying, he's got it for you. But I remember, like, David Montgomery, if you talk to him one-on-one or in a small group, he'll give you some of the best stuff out there for sure. So, oh, and then the thing I was going to add to that is, I don't know if people remember this, but David Montgomery is a big bowler. He likes to bowl the game of bowling. So was Mark Potash.

At one point in time during a press conference, David Montgomery asked Mark Podash, said, we should go bowling together sometime. And I think Pottsy said, yeah, he never happened. As it turned out, weed man, weedsy. Dan Weeder went bowling with David Montgomery and a couple other guys. Just not like on an average like Tuesday, probably wasn't Tuesday because that's the day off. That's fantastic. Isn't that hilarious?

Yeah, bowling is, I mean, it's. It's a great hobby, especially for a place that has a lot of winter months. So I'm into it. Like, Diversity Bowl this time you're going to popping. The House of the, what is it, rock and roll bowl right by the House of Blues. Love that play. Great first date place. Great first date, like an activity place that is perfect for it.

But yeah, bowling never goes out of style. So your point about players not exactly seeking media out. Drew Dalman was doing his responsibility there. Exactly. Exactly. And I've always appreciated when he's talked. I feel like his comments usually are thoughtful and you get a solid answer. And he also, you could tell even when you talk to him, like he would say phrases like narrow the aperture.

And we loved that because that was a great metaphor. So in those moments, it's not like he shirked anybody. No, there was none of that. He alluded to next year. You didn't get any indication at that point in listening back to it. I mean, even that, even that is. is like really pressing it to think that there's something there. But yeah, no, to answer that question, like there was nothing about Dahlman's personality.

His professionalism was all there 100%. We also have a bit as we continue on the evidence locker room here on Rehemi Harrison Grotie. I don't know if you guys heard about this, but Max Crosby does a podcast. And I don't know if you know, he had Caleb Williams on it. You've been hearing about all that? We may have heard something about it. We obsessed over that for two days. When I say we, I mean the collective everybody's, oh my God, Caleb Williams and Max Crosby.

Because we know what they were doing. Because they wanted that attention. They knew that we would give that attention because it's Max Crosby and Caleb Williams. They knew what they were doing. Yeah, you're right. They didn't know what they were doing. Solid podcast producing out of Max Crosby, really. Yeah, we see you, Max Crosby.

solid work yeah now tell your team not to not to cost us two first round picks to get you here in chicago where you'll be very happy but there there was caleb williams on the max crosbie podcast talking about drew dalman did i have a beast of a sinner yeah he's dalman's yeah he's a dahlman's insane yeah he's a beast yeah he's a beast like he's supremely smart you know really stout you know sinner and things like that i mean he's he's unbelievable but you know, just just helping him more, you know, building that, that bond, that belief and trust between us and, you know, what we're seeing is, you know, same thing from, you know, Ben to me to Drew's, you know, seeing eye to eye, eye and, you know, probably having more meetings with him,

you know, throughout the weeks and things like that. See, that's the key part there, and that's the part, and we've discussed it, just the importance not only of that position, obviously, with the developing young quarterback in Caleb Williams, but that particular. guy who is so smart and so good at identifying things and need to be identified pre-snap and helping Caleb Williams with that and being in all of the quarterback meetings with Caleb Williams, which is unique relative to the rest of the offensive line. And, you know, that's something that we've heard from our interview with Joe Thomas yesterday. That was excellent. Olin Cruz has alluded to that and talked about that in his discussions with both our afternoon show and our

morning show, Mully and Haugh today. So that's something that you hear echoed, but some are better than others at it. And I feel like to help Caleb Williams transition into a new offense, you couldn't have asked for a better partner in that combination. That's what makes this so tough. It really does. I heard Mark Potash was on in the five o'clock hour yesterday with Lawrence Holmes after he was abandoned by his partner, Spiegel, had to take Rubin on a high school tour. which is pretty cool. I'm looking forward to hearing if he's going to a certain high school that I live near. But Potsie kind of had a different look at it as in like you could get a good product still for less money. Now, it's not inconceivable that you can replace Drew Dahlman and still be in good shape.

My counter to that though is, and I'm surprised that this wasn't in Potsie's equation, the very recent, lack of success under Ryan Poles and even previous to that with centers. Hell, even, I mean, and we don't have to go through the usual litany of names, but I guess I will, Lucas Patrick and Sam Mustifer. And then you even go back to when Cody Whitehair was playing the center position. Like, he was a good set, like, okay, I guess, but he wasn't a great center. So this has been going on for a while since, like, the steadiness of somebody like a Roberto Garza and then going all the way back to Olin Kruz, obviously.

In the past 11 seasons after a long stretch in which Olin Kruits and Roberto Garza were the stalwarts at center, the team has used seven week one starters. That revolving door cast has included Dahlman, Coleman Shelton, Lucas Patrick, Sam Mustifer, Coleman Shelton was the center with the Rams past year. He's having a nice career all of a sudden, yeah. Sam Mustifer, Cody Whitehair, James Daniels, and Will Montgomery. I blew. I'm glad, maybe not glad that you just brought up James Daniels because I had forgotten that that man did play center for the Chicago Bears. This season he was supposed to shine with the bears, he tore his peck.

Yeah. That's what happened. He did. And his center time was I'd have to look again, but I do believe it was very abbreviated. But yes, James Daniels did play some center for the Chicago Bears. Now, I mentioned Olin Croutes more on him in a moment. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043 The Score. That's Mark Grotty. I'm Leila Rahimi and you join us as well as we broadcast live through the Scores Hyundai Studios brought to you by your local Hyundai dealers. You can text and call us and you have and you've made several jokes already about Mark calling Dan Weeder or Weedman. 312-644-67 is our number where you can do that and more. You can also call us at that number. And then you can join us on Twitch. Twitch, dot TV slash the score Chicago. Our address changed. It's still free, but our address changed. So tell your

people. Our Twitch mob is up and chatting. We are also at the score Chicago on YouTube as well. Our producers are Ray Diaz, Tyler Beaterbaugh, Brandon Fryer helps us out too. And our video crew is Connor O'Donnell, Jacob Stutz, Max Curtis. They also do social and alongside Cody Westerland. Let's get into what of someone Olin Cruz had to say, because he is somebody who everybody looks to, when it comes to opinion about the offensive line. You know, when Drew Dalman signed here, people wanted to know what Olin thought. And he gave a lot of perspective when it came to the hardship of playing the position.

We'll listen back to some of what Joe Thomas had to say and put it together and understand next.