Ben Johnson didn’t dance around it: D’Andre Swift matters, and he matters a lot to what the Bears want to do on offense.
The Chicago running back was one of the biggest bright spots last season, putting together the kind of year that reminded everyone why he’s been such a dangerous player since entering the league. After averaging less than four yards per carry in 2024 for the first time in his career, Swift answered with a career-high 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
That production helped fuel a Bears ground game that finished with the NFL’s third-best rushing attack in 2025, with Swift and Kyle Monangai forming the backfield pairing Chicago leaned on.
Johnson made it clear he sees Swift as more than just a productive runner.
"He's a dynamic player," Johnson said via chicagobears.com's Gabby Hajduk. "I've known that about him since he came into the league, firsthand up there in Detroit, and certainly last year I wasn't surprised about the year he had.
So, is he capable of more? Absolutely.
He absolutely is. He's a vital part of what we do here."
That’s the heart of Swift’s value in this offense. Chicago wants to keep leaning on the run, and the roster is built for it. With Swift and Monangai in the backfield, the Bears have the kind of one-two punch that can keep defenses guessing, and an offensive line that should be able to handle 30 or more rushing attempts in a game efficiently.
Swift also gives the Bears something Monangai doesn’t: a different kind of threat. He’s not just a runner. He’s a receiver, too, and that part of his game can’t be overlooked after he caught 34 passes for 299 yards and one touchdown last season.
His lone receiving score came against the Washington Commanders, and it showed exactly why he can change a game in a hurry. With his speed, he turned that catch into a 55-yard touchdown.
Monangai’s job is more straightforward - pound the ball, wear down defenses, finish drives in the red zone. Swift’s role is broader. He’s the player who can pop a five-yard run into something bigger, or turn a short catch into extra yards after the reception.
That flexibility fits Johnson’s style. He likes moving pieces around, finding different ways to use skill players, and creating mismatches. Swift can stay in the backfield, or he can line up in the slot and become a problem on a quick throw.
If the Bears are going to take another step as an offense in 2026, Swift is going to be right in the middle of it.
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