The concept of a "big" week wasn't unique to any one member of the Chicago Bears. Their Week 1 victory over the Carolina Panthers produced a number of standouts. However, few names on the roster had a better one than running back D'Andre Swift.
On Saturday, it was announced that the team had signed Swift to a fresh three-year extension that keeps him in the fold through 2029. While a deal was never something floating around the rumor ether, the Bears now have their starting back locked up for the next handful of seasons. Swift then proceeded to have himself a day in Carolina, finishing with 124 yards rushing on 18 attempts (6.9 average) and three touchdowns.
As if Swift wasn't already likely levitating after a weekend like that, head coach Ben
Johnson had this to say about his starting running back.
“He’s really an all-purpose back as far as I'm concerned," Johnson said. "He's a lot stronger than what people think. He's willing to go for those hard yards and run in between the tackles. He can put his shoulder down, drive the pile, and yet he still has the speed to where he can be an explosive play on the perimeter as well. So, I've always seen him as more of an all-purpose back than putting any certain type of label on him. I'm just really proud of how he's grown to become at this point. He's earned that contract. He wants to be here. The way he works and he goes about his business is exactly what we want to be about. His teammates respect him, and he's a huge part of what we do here on offense.”
It's hard to find much higher praise than that from a coach with a high standard. Swift had only been a true starting back for the last three seasons prior to the start of 2026. His first season under Ben Johnson as head coach yielded his best results over that stretch as he set career-highs in rush yards (1,087), touchdowns (nine), and yards-per-attempt (4.9). His 34 receptions did fall under his career average (51), but one imagines that should be back in order with the way the team's offensive operation looks after Week 1.
Ultimately, though, the comments from the head coach are indicative of exactly why the Bears felt comfortable handing Swift that extension. He illustrated his dynamic style last season in a way that we really hadn't seen from him in the NFL, both as a runner that can move inside & outside and as a pass catcher out of the backfield. With that contract now in hand and a year of Johnson's offense under him, one imagines we could see a further ascent from Swift in 2026.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Ben Johnson shares what makes D'Andre Swift invaluable to Bears
