How Atlanta Falcons OL Chris Lindstrom and Drew Dalman Became ‘Joined at the Hip’

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons’ offensive line looks suspiciously like a cult, head coach Raheem Morris joked during OTAs.

From their shirtless positions in flip-flops to their planks while the other position groups leave the practice field, Morris said Atlanta’s line simply has a different feel.

And it’s only fitting that two of the group’s leaders are almost identical.

Falcons center Drew Dalman and right guard Chris Lindstrom play side by side on the court. Their synchronization is crucial to the combination blocks and movement needed for Atlanta’s wide zone attack.

But their off-field chemistry is just as crucial. Lindstrom, 27, is a two-time team captain. Dalman, who turns 26 later this year, is one of the key voices on the offensive line, according to Morris.

Lindstrom has a more accomplished resume, going from a 2019 first-round pick to a two-time All-Pro, but Dalman’s rise from a 2021 fourth-round pick to a two-year starter at the middle of the line Atlanta’s offense is not devalued by the organization.

Their CVs differ, but so do their origins. Dalman is originally from Salinas, California, a city northeast of Monterey with a population of more than 160,000. Lindstrom, meanwhile, is from Dudley, Massachusetts, population 11,800. More than 3,000 miles separate the two cities.

Yet when Lindstrom and Dalman enter the walls of the Falcons’ headquarters in Flowery Branch, nothing separates them.

“I have no idea how we found two guys that were exactly alike in Chris Lindstrom and Drew,” Morris said during OTAs. “In terms of demeanor, personality, grit and perseverance that you need and toughness up front to play exactly next to each other.”

Lindstrom and Dalman were the Falcons’ two best offensive linemen last season, according to Pro Football Focus. They were also the team’s best run blockers in a unit that finished 9th in the league in rushing. Atlanta’s running backs averaged 4.6 yards per carry on 107 attempts between the tackles.

PFF ranked Lindstrom as the NFL’s best guard for the second straight year and Dalman as the third-ranked center.

Falcons offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford has seen Lindstrom and Dalman more than anyone over the past three years. He knows how they operate and what makes them tick as well as anyone on Atlanta’s staff.

And despite the on-field success the tandem enjoyed last season, Ledford believes their similarities start off the field.

“I just think about the way they carry themselves, the way they prepare,” Ledford said. “They have a lot of similarities. There are certain things that we look for and that we want in this room, and those two guys, they bring that to the team.”

The tone-deaf habits Lindstrom and Dalman bring every day have helped give Atlanta’s offensive line a unique element, Ledford said. It’s a fun room because of the variety of personalities, but one that remains committed to opening running lanes and keeping quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​upright.

Morris, who was an assistant on the Falcons’ coaching staff from 2015-20 and spent 11 games as interim head coach before leaving in the spring of 2021, knew all about Lindstrom when he returned to Atlanta this spring.

But when he arrived, he didn’t know much about Dalman. He does it now. Morris said he was very impressed with Dalman’s pursuit of perfection and his willingness to be coached, embodying the leadership qualities teams often look for in centers.

The Falcons view Lindstrom as a fundamental part of the offense; general manager Terry Fontenot gave him the largest contract for an offensive guard in NFL history in the spring of 2023 with a five-year contract worth up to $105 million.

Dalman is entering a contract year. His future in Atlanta remains uncertain, depending largely on what he does in his third season as a starter. He must have liked what he saw in the center market this year. Lloyd Cushenberry, a less accomplished player than Dalman, signed a four-year, $50 million contract ($26 million guaranteed) with the Titans.

But as the 6-foot-3, 305-pound Stanford alum navigates another offseason in Flowery Branch, he’s doing so in an environment ripe for growth: strapped alongside Lindstrom.

“One of them is finishing a play, the other person is right next to him,” Ledford said. “Whenever they’re doing something – if they’re in the weight room, the others right next to it. So they’re always in pairs doing things. They’re really joined at the hip.”

The question is whether they’ll get another offseason to do so – but for now, the duo are focused on turning a growth-filled 2023 into an even better 2024, and Morris entered the summer break confident they’re on the right track.

“It’s a tough time for that interior part of the line,” Morris said. “But I’m really happy with this starting five.”