After a bit of a clunky Year 1 with the Chicago Bears back in 2024, D'Andre Swift's second season left very little question as to his fit in the offense. His blend of ability as a runner and as a pass-catcher out of the backfield represents an ideal combination as a No. 1 as the tandem he formed with the more powerful style of Kyle Monangai emerged as one of the league's best last season.
Ahead of the 2026 season, we already knew that head coach Ben Johnson was bought in to how Swift showed up in this year's preseason program. Between the statistical improvement between the two seasons and the visible confidence with which Swift was running, his stock remains high. Entering the final year of the three-year pact he agreed to before the 2024 season, though,
there are going to be some natural questions that emerge as the season progresses surrounding his future with the Bears.
Even as the position experienced something of a renaissance in its priority to NFL offenses over the last couple of years, running back is still not a position that carries a great deal of longevity. Save for the genuinely elite, not even a multi-year No. 1 back is guaranteed to sustain such a role over the long-term. When Swift signed his three-year deal, it would not have been a surprise for him to play out that trio of seasons and then settle in as a supplementary back elsewhere just based on how careers tend to play out as a back. Even after his first season, there were questions as to whether or not he'd make it that far.
But after a strong 2025, and in showcasing the complementary style he offers in conjunction with Monangai, there's certainly a case to be made for continuing the partnership between player and organization beyond the upcoming season. For what it's worth, general manager Ryan Poles appears to agree.
"Yeah, it's definitely something we need to look at, and we will look at," Poles said. "I think he's done a great job. I love his approach this offseason. He looks amazing, and it's his second year in the system, too. So I like where he's at right now. This is where this job gets tough, is really trying to figure out how you want to allocate everything, not only for now, but into the future. So we'll have those conversations and see where we want to go with it. But I love Swift, and I love the way that he's working."
Obviously, things are never as simple as an executive or a coach declaring their satisfaction with a player and then that player seamlessly finding their way to a new contract. The dynamics of the salary cap and positional context weigh too heavily on even the healthiest of situations. And it's not as if Poles was declarative in indicating an actual effort to keep him in Chicago beyond this season. In this case, however, it seems entirely possible that the two sides could come together on an extension of their current arrangement, be it in the form of an extension or a new contract down the line.
In matters of production, the typical threshold for a running back has long been 30 years old. It's one of the oldest narratives in the league's history and one that has been at least somewhat debunked as a handful of backs across the league have remained productive beyond that. In Swift's case, he'll turn 28 toward the end of this season, leaving him a little bit of wiggle room in matters of the aging curve. That part at least, combined with his performance and complementary style for the younger Monangai, do work in his favor.
How much that curve will impact the Bears' willingness to engage Swift on a longer-term arrangement (and how Swift's camp will navigate that concept on their own) remains to be seen. It's hardly surprising, though, that Poles and the Bears would be at least interested in seeing one half of their backfield remaining in place beyond 2026. Especially given his ascent in 2025 and how he's shown up in the offseason & preseason work ahead of the new year.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Ryan Poles hints at potential new contract for Bears RB D'Andre Swift
