And just like that, the Chicago Bears’ longest-tenured running back was gone. With the NFL’s trade deadline hours – not months, weeks, or even days – away, the Bears traded Khalil Herbert to the Cincinnati Bengals for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on November 5.
The news came as an apparent pleasant surprise.
After downplaying trade rumors in a conversation with Clocker Sports last month, Herbert’s message on social media after the trade offered a clearer glimpse than his answers then.
Former Bears RB Khalil Herbert Sends 3-Word Message After Bengals Trade
Khalil Herbert Happy After Bears Trade
“Thank you God,” Herbert posted on X on November 5.
The message also included praying hands and tiger emojis and his new team’s slogan, “#WhoDey.”
Thank you God 🙏🏾🐅 #WhoDey
— Khalil Herbert (@JuiceHerbert) November 5, 2024
Herbert, 26, was a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has 1,791 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns in his career on 372 carries. He also has 45 career receptions for 291 yards and 2 scores.
Herbert has started 12 of his 48 games played, but notably had his role on offense reduced and was a special teamer this season.
He leaves the Bears and joins the Bengals with eight carries for 16 yards and 1 touchdown.
Bengals RB Khalil Herbert ‘Filed Away’ Bears Trade Speculation
“Yeah, I don’t know. I mean there’ll be a bunch of stuff you hear, see. I don’t know necessarily how much of it is true. Just focused on being here right now, where my feet are, getting better today, have a good practice today,” Herbert told Clocker Sports about his name coming up in trade rumors on October 23.
“Just file it away. You never know what’s gonna happen, so you never want to get your hopes up or you never want to think one thing’s going to happen and then another thing happens. So I just focus on where I am right now, be where my feet are.”
KTSP’s Darren Wolfson reported on “Skor North” on October 17 that the Minnesota Vikings wanted Herbert.
They ultimately traded for Cam Akers instead, sending a conditional sixth-round pick in 2026 to the Houston Texans in exchange for Akers and a conditional seventh-rounder (also 2026).
The return for Herbert is also notable. Bears general manager Ryan Poles said on the final episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” that he had an offer for Velus Jones Jr. but would not go below a fourth-round pick.
Jones was waived on October 25. He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars four days later.
Bears RB Room After Khalil Herbert Trade
Roschon Johnson’s arrival last season had already signaled Herbert would cede carries, particularly at the goal line. D’Andre Swift’s arrival in free agency during the 2024 offseason signaled the end of Herbert’s time atop the depth chart.
Swift has 125 carries for 505 yards with 4 touchdowns on the season. He has racked up 437 yards and all of his rushing scores from Weeks 4 through 9.
He also has 25 grabs for 224 yards, which was a big part of the Bears’ offensive turnaround.
Johnson – a fourth-round pick in 2023 (No. 115 overall) – has 108 yards and 4 TDs on 35 carries, adding another 65 yards on eight receptions. Herbert’s trade should not have too much of an impact on either Johnson or Swift.
Special teams maven Travis Homer’s return ahead of Week 9 took away Herbert’s last role in any phase.