The Bears may be headed toward a move that would have sounded unlikely not long ago: extending D’Andre Swift before the season even kicks off.
Chicago’s first year under Ben Johnson leaned heavily on the ground game, and Swift was right in the middle of it. He turned in the best season of his career, and the presence of rookie seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai helped keep him fresh and healthy over the course of the year.
That’s part of why Swift keeps coming up in trade chatter. His age and salary have made him an obvious candidate in those conversations, especially with Monangai drawing attention too. But Bears insider Brad Biggs says the team may be leaning the other way.
“Is another extension a possibility before the season starts?” Biggs wrote.
“If a deal is to be done before the September 13 opener at Carolina, D’Andre Swift is the player to keep an eye on. Swift is entering the final year of the three-year, $24 million contract he signed in free agency in 2024.”
The numbers make a strong argument for keeping him around. Swift averaged 4.9 yards per carry and posted a career-high 1,386 scrimmage yards. He also rushed for 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns as part of a committee that helped fuel the league’s third-best running game.
Even so, the business side is never simple with running backs. Swift is 27, and teams usually get cautious about giving a second major contract to backs once the first one expires. A new deal would almost certainly mean a significant bump from the three-year, $24 million pact he signed in 2024.
The other wrinkle is roster planning. Many around the league expected the Bears to gradually hand Monangai more work in year two and let the backfield become even more evenly split before making a call on Swift’s future. Chicago can afford an extension, but it also has to keep an eye on upcoming deals for Rome Odunze and Caleb Williams.
Still, Johnson’s preferences are easy to see. He has made a two-back system a central part of his offense, and he used the same blueprint in Detroit with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs before bringing that approach to Chicago.
Swift, for his part, has consistently said the right things about wanting to remain with the Bears. That was true when trade rumors swirled before last year’s deadline, and it remains true now. He can’t control what happens next, but it’s clear he’d prefer to stay in Chicago long term.
The decision won’t be a straightforward one, and there’s a real argument on both sides. What isn’t up for debate is this: the Bears are built around the run, and that figure will only matter more as Johnson’s second season begins.
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