A key weapon for the Chicago Bears is sticking around for the foreseeable future. On Friday, the Bears and running back D'Andre Swift agreed to a three-year contract extension worth over $33.75 million and $27.5 million guaranteed. The move keeps Swift in Chicago through the 2029 season.
Swift, a 2020 second-round draft pick with the Detroit Lions, joined the Bears as a free agent prior to the 2024 season to be their new featured running back. Initially, the signing did not pay off as the Bears' rushing attack was abysmal under then-offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Swift finished the year with 959 rushing yards and averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry.
Things changed in 2025, though. Despite rumors he could be on the chopping block with
Ben Johnson coming to town, the Bears relied on Swift to lead their improved rushing attack along with Kyle Monangai, and he turned things around. Swift helped propel the offense to new heights, finishing with 1,087 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, both career highs. Instead of becoming an afterthought, Swift became a focal point that the Bears did not want to lose next year when he was set to hit free agency.
Here is our initial grade of the deal:
Contract details
- Three-year extension worth $33.75 million with $28.5 million guaranteed
Initial grade: B
What a difference a year makes. This time in 2025, fans couldn't wait to get out from under the Swift contract and find a running back that fit better with what Johnson's offense called for. You can even see fans showing their dismay when ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reacts to a report that Swift was set to play in an upcoming game. Now, he's an essential part of what Johnson is doing, and he proved himself to the entire coaching staff with a strong training camp.
I believed a Swift extension was coming and even thought it might take place during training camp. After dominating consistently throughout practice, I was convinced it was coming during the season. So I will take this moment to pat myself on the back for not only calling the deal in my season bold predictions but also correctly predicting the yearly value of the deal ($11 million).
The decision to extend Swift makes sense considering how he performs in this offense. You could see a different player on the field in 2025 compared to 2024 with how Swift hit the holes and played with a tenacity we had not seen in the past. Clearly that hasn't gone away this offseason with how he's looked throughout camp, either. Swift is at his best when playing in Johnson's offense. Plus, he doesn't have to do it alone, as he will be paired with Monangai for the next three seasons at least.
As for the value, Swift gets a $3 million raise per year but still would be just inside the top 15 highest-paid players at his position going into this season. And that will only age better as more players such as Chase Brown and Bucky Irving sign new deals. If Swift can maintain his production over the next couple of seasons, this deal will look just fine.
The only hang-up with this extension is the number of years. The Bears are giving Swift three additional years, keeping him under contract through 2029. He will be 30 during his final season with the Bears, which isn't a death sentence, but it's a concern for running backs. We know their shelf lives are short and not many veterans get three multiyear deals. Would the Bears have been better off with a two-year deal that kept him in Chicago through 2028? Possibly, but they were likely also able to lower the cap hit with the extra year attached. It remains to be seen how the deal is actually structured.
Overall, this is a fine extension that carries some risk; Swift can't turn back into the runner we saw in 2024 and must continue to stay healthy. Fortunately, Johnson won't let him slack, and splitting time with Monangai will keep Swift's tires fresh as the two backs play off one another. It's good to see running back shouldn't be an issue going forward. Now just imagine telling yourself that a year ago.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Grading the Bears' extension of RB D'Andre Swift
