For the second time in as many seasons, D’Andre Swift is facing an uncertain future with the Chicago Bears. Unlike the initial pass, Swift is coming off a career year on the ground and helped the Bears produce one of the best rushing seasons in the league in 2025.
They are returning most of the same personnel from that group, too.
Still, repeating that performance could be difficult, but it would certainly go a long way for the Bears in 2026 and for Swift beyond that.
Bears’ D’Andre Swift Entering Critical Season
D’Andre Swift, Bears Have Decision to Make
The Bears initially signed Swift to a three-year, $24 million contract in free agency during the 2024 offseason. However, he struggled with efficiency, producing the fewest yards per carry of his career. Even in that, Swift provided dual-threat value, tallying 386 yards on 42 receptions.
He set a career-high in scrimmage yards.
Swift faced doubt entering 2025, particularly after the Bears changed head coaches, hiring Ben Johnson, who was with the Detroit Lions when the back was drated in 2020 and traded in 2023.
The 2023 Pro Bowler (Philadelphia Eagles) responded with career-bests of 1,087 yards and 9 touchdowns for the Bears in 2025. Swift tacked on a 34-299-1 line as a receiving threat out of the Bears’ backfield, setting a new career-high in yards from scrimmage.
He did that while splitting snaps with 2025 seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai.
Monangai figures to be more heavily involved in the game plan earlier in the season than he was as a rookie, which presumably means less work for Swift.
The Bears will need both players to be healthy and productive, but Swift could need to be even more effective with the work he gets this season to secure his next payday, be it in Chicago or elsewhere.
Spotrac projected his market value at a two-year, $17.6 million contract.
Bears’ Changes Loom Large
Swift, who turned 27 in January, had a 1,000-yard under his belt when he joined the Bears, giving a reason for optimism that he can sustain his success from 2025. However, changes around him figure to have a significant impact.
The change at center from Pro Bowler Drew Dalman, who retired, to Garrett Bradbury (or rookie Logan Jones, who is virtually the same size as the veteran) looms largest of all, both for Swift, Monangai, and the running game and the passing attack.
They tied for the most yards per carry before contact in 2025, per Pro Football Reference.
Additionally, the Bears are going from veteran Durham Smythe as an H-back, blocking tight end option to a rookie in Sam Roush, though how they plan to deploy him remains uncertain after the offseason program.
So, in addition to a potentially more even split in the carries, Swift is also navigating key changes to a Bears’ roster that also figures to be more advanced in the passing attack.
The Bears also had to change running back coaches this offseason.
That is a daunting list of challenges for Swift to overcome, but also something the Bears star has experienced before in his trade from Detroit to Philadelphia. Swift was also entering the final year of his contract at that time, and it worked out just fine.
The Bears have several other options on their roster, but their running game figures to once again revolve around Swift and Monangai.
