Why The Bears Gave D’Andre Swift A $33.75M Extension

Heading into the 2025 season, many NFL fans questioned why Ben Johnson wanted to stick with Swift as his RB1. Considering when Johnson became the Lions’ offensive coordinator in the 2022 season, the former second-round pick seemed to fall out of favor with him quickly.

​During the 2022 season, Swift played fourteen games but only started in eight games. Due to a combination of him missing three games because of injuries, along with Johnson growing frustrated with Swift’s lack of vision, he grew to prefer Jammal Williams.

​Leading the former Georgia product to record only 542 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, and a 47.5% rushing success rate on 99 carries. Williams had significantly more rushing yards, touchdowns, and a higher rushing success rate.

​Following the 2022 season, it became even more clear Swift didn’t have the belief from Johnson and Detroit as a whole that he could be their lead back. Detroit signed David Montgomery in free agency to a three-year, $18 million contract. Then proceeded to draft Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick, and two days later they traded Swift to the Eagles for a 2025 fourth-round pick.

D’Andre Swift’s First Season With The Bears Was A Letdown

Swift would sign with Chicago to a three-year, $24.5 million contract in the 2024 offseason. In his first season with the Bears, he seemed to be an overpay of a free-agent signing.

​Swift produced 959 rushing yards, six touchdowns, a rushing success rate of 43.9%, and 3.8 yards per carry. His advanced efficiency metrics were poor as well, ranking in the 39th percentile or lower in true yards per carry, explosive rating, yards created per touch, and EPA.

D’Andre Swift Revived His Career In 2025

This past season, Swift bounced back under the playcalling of Ben Johnson, and his vision and decisiveness improved in a big way. Swift delivered 1,087 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns; both were career highs.  

​Swift’s advanced efficiency metrics also took a huge uptick, ranking in the 12th percentile or higher in true yards per carry, explosive rating, yards created per touch, and EPA. Behind the career year of Swift, Kyle Monangai shattered expectations; with a revamped offensive line and Johnson being the offensive playcaller, Chicago ranked top three in the NFL in rushing yards per game, yards per carry, and total rushing yards.

End Of D’Andre Swift Signs $33.75M Extension With Chicago Bears Rant

​Johnson knows how valuable it is to have a dynamic ground game to be an elite offense. As we witnessed when he was the offensive coordinator for Detroit, he had a dynamic duo in Gibbs and Montgomery that were the foundation for the elite offensive heights they reached.

​This past season, he called an elite run game with players in a similar archetype to his Lions backs, with Swift and Monangai. Their run game wouldn’t be the same if it was just Monangai as the lead back or vice versa.

​Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles know that, and with Swift entering this season in the final year of his deal before this extension. Chicago made sure to extend him and not risk having to search for a new running back who can be the lightning to Monangai’s thunder.