The Chicago Bears enter the NFL offseason coming off an 11–6 regular season, their best finish in nearly a decade, but with several questions about how the roster must evolve to stay in contention.
As Chicago weighs cost-cutting and potential roster turnover, running back emerged as one position many believed the team could (and perhaps should) move on from.
That assumption is notable considering the Bears leaned heavily on the ground game in 2025, averaging 144.5 rushing yards per game, the third-highest mark in the NFL.
Still, after prior seasons of instability at the position and a crowded backfield, the future there remained uncertain.
Now, 27-year-old running back D'Andre Swift has publicly weighed in, making it clear where he stands.
"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," Swift told the Chicago Sun-Times on Monday. "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."
Swift is entering the final season of the three-year, $24 million deal he signed with Chicago, which makes his public comments especially timely as the organization evaluates its offseason priorities.
Complicating matters further, he's coming off the most productive season of his career - a career-high 1,087 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on the ground, plus 299 receiving yards.
That production forces a decision: do the Bears invest additional money in a proven veteran, attempt to restructure his deal, or allow him to approach the open market next year without long-term security?
As a core piece of Ben Johnson's offense, retaining Swift would preserve continuity in a run scheme that found its rhythm late last season. That stability carries added weight for a team still developing around a young quarterback and an improving offensive line.
At the same time, running back remains one of the league's most financially devalued positions, and rookie Kyle Monangai flashed starting-caliber upside when called upon, erupting for 176 rushing yards and 22 receiving yards in the lone game Swift missed on Nov. 11, 2025.
Given Swift's age and recent production, he should still command mid-tier starter money if he eventually reaches the market. The question now is whether Chicago views that price as an investment in continuity or an opportunity to pivot toward a cheaper, younger alternative.
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