Bears RB D'Andre Swift Hopes to Stay in Chicago

Swift believes he made a strong case to remain with the Bears heading into the final year of his contract.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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D'Andre Swift, the Bears' do-it-all running back, is hoping he has convinced the team to keep him on the roster for the 2026 season, the final year of his current contract. Swift had a career-high 1,087 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns in 2025, a significant improvement from the previous season. Despite some uncertainty around his future, Swift expressed his desire to remain in Chicago, citing his love for the city, coaching staff, and teammates.

Why it matters

The Bears' offense under coach Ben Johnson relies heavily on a versatile running back, and Swift has proven to be a valuable asset in that role. Retaining Swift would provide stability and continuity in the backfield, as the team looks to build on its success from the previous season.

The details

Swift told the Sun-Times that he believes he made a strong case to stay with the Bears, as the team has a relatively cheap $1.3 million out on his contract this offseason. However, the Bears have opted to keep him on the roster at an affordable $8.8 million for the 2026 season. Swift's renewed north-south running style and 1,000-yard season have convinced the team to keep him, despite a disappointing 2024 campaign. Bears offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who was previously with the Lions when they traded Swift, has played a major role in the running back's success, and Swift is excited to continue working with him and the new running backs coach, Eric Studesville.

  • Swift turned 27 years old last month.

The players

D'Andre Swift

A do-it-all running back for the Chicago Bears who had a career-high 1,087 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns in the 2025 season.

Ben Johnson

The offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears, who previously worked with Swift when he was with the Detroit Lions.

Eric Studesville

The new running backs coach for the Chicago Bears, replacing the departed Eric Bieniemy.

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What they’re saying

“I have no idea, but hopefully I did enough for them to want me back because I know I don't want to go anywhere else. I hope it plays itself out that way. I love the city, I love the coaching staff and the men that I work with. That's out of my control, but if I had it my way, I'd be back. I don't want to play nowhere else.”

— D'Andre Swift (suntimes.com)

“First of all, Ben always believed in me as a player, so just him giving me opportunities was great. The more opportunities I'm given, the more I can make stuff happen.”

— D'Andre Swift (suntimes.com)

“I can do more. I wish I would've been able to contribute a little more in the passing game. We've got so many pass-catchers on the field, so whenever it does come up, I try to make something happen with it, but I do know I could do more.”

— D'Andre Swift (suntimes.com)

What’s next

The Bears will need to decide whether to keep Swift on the roster at his $8.8 million salary for the 2026 season or explore other options.

The takeaway

D'Andre Swift's resurgent 2025 season has made him a key part of the Bears' offense, and the team appears committed to keeping him in Chicago for at least one more year. Swift's versatility and potential for even greater production make him a valuable asset, and the Bears will need to weigh the cost of retaining him against the potential impact he can have on their offense.