Bears To Extend RB D’Andre Swift

Swift could have become a free agent next offseason, but he will instead keep his partnership with head coach Ben Johnson alive for at least a few more years. The two were together in Detroit from 2020-22, when Johnson held multiple roles on its staff, and reunited when the Bears hired Johnson last year. Swift was then entering his second season with the Bears, who brought him aboard in 2024 on a three-year, $24MM contract in free agency.

After sharing carries with Adrian Peterson and then Jamaal Williams during his first three seasons, Swift did not finish his four-year rookie contract in the Motor City. The Lions traded him to the Eagles after drafting Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in 2023. Returning to his native Philadelphia, Swift enjoyed the lone Pro Bowl season of his career. He took over as the Eagles’ lead back and rushed for 1,049 yards and five touchdowns on 229 carries.

The 5-foot-8, 204-pound Swift parlayed what was then a career year with the Eagles into his first pact with the Bears. While Swift played his first 17-game season in 2024, he fell short of 1,000 yards (959) on 253 attempts and sunk from 4.6 yards per carry to a personal-worst 3.8. With Johnson taking the reins last season, Swift rebounded in a big way. Across 16 games, he ran for a career-best 1,087 yards on 223 totes (4.9 YPC) and set a new high-water mark with 10 touchdowns (nine rushing, one receiving). Swift also chipped in 34 catches, though that’s a career low for someone who amassed between 39 and 62 in each of the previous five seasons.

Thanks largely to Swift and the hard-running Kyle Monangai, who piled up 783 yards as a seventh-round rookie, the Bears led the NFC in rushing in 2025. Their elite ground attack (third overall in the NFL) helped the Bears to 11 regular-season wins and their first NFC North title since 2018. With Swift now under wraps through 2029, he and Monangai will continue as Chicago’s one-two punch for the foreseeable future.

Although Swift came up as a potential release candidate in February, he made it clear he wanted to stay in Chicago. Not only did the 27-year-old get his wish, but he landed a raise. At $11.25MM per year, Swift’s extension places him 13th at his position in average annual value. He ranks a similar 15th in total money.