D’Andre Swift is getting a different kind of attention now, and it’s easy to see why.
After a 2024 season with the Chicago Bears that never really matched expectations, Swift bounced back in a big way last year. His production looked far more like the profile of a true lead back: 1,087 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns and a 4.9 yards-per-carry average. That came after he ran for 959 yards and six scores in 2024, but with a career-low 3.8 yards per carry.
That turnaround has changed how he’s being viewed. Lombardi Avenue’s Sayre Bedinger ranked the NFC North’s starting running backs entering 2026, and Swift came in third. He landed behind the Green Bay Packers’ Josh Jacobs at No. 2 and the Detroit Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 1, but ahead of the Minnesota Vikings’ Jordan Mason.
As Bedinger put it: "Swift is clearly a tier or two below some of his peers around the league at the position in terms of overall impact, but after finishing 12th in the league in rushing yards last season and 18th in yards from scrimmage, his reputation is growing in a very positive way."
That’s the shift for Swift. For years, he’s been viewed as a back who fits neatly into a shared workload, the kind of runner who can thrive in a one-two punch but doesn’t always get treated like the featured option.
Last season pushed that perception forward. He showed he can carry the load, and he did it while Kyle Monangai handled more of the short-yardage work than many expected.
There’s a chance the workload changes again in 2026. Monangai could get a few more carries, which might trim Swift’s rushing total.
But the bigger number to watch may be his yards per carry. If he stays above 4.5, that would be a strong sign the Bears’ ground game is still humming.
The offensive line could also shape how this looks. Chicago has a new starting left tackle and center, and those changes could have a real impact on a rushing attack that finished third in rushing yards last year.
Even with that uncertainty, Swift has the kind of momentum that matters. His future in Chicago may be unsettled, but his standing around the league is clearly on the rise.
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