Fixing dented bumpers

If you do try to atraighten it out, the thing to remember is that you don't want to try and pound it all out in one hard swing. That will be more likely to cause the chrome to crack.

Use lighter pressure with many multiple softer blows to gradually bring the dent out, and like others have said, don't use a hard steel hammer on it, and back it up with a sand bag, carpet or something similarly firm that has some give.

I'm also a former auto body guy.

Good luck! Post up some after pics, even if it ain't perfect! That's probably a tough one to do without replating, for sure.