(670 The Score) In the past 16 months, the Bears have carefully explored their options at running back.
They passed on potential pursuits of Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry in March 2024, instead signing D’Andre Swift to a three-year deal. This past March, they sat out a stale running back market in free agency while waiting for the NFL Draft, where the likes of Ashton Jeanty, TreVeyon Henderson and Cam Skattebo were selected a few picks before the Bears were on the clock in various rounds.
Now, the Bears are set to enter training camp in late July with Swift, third-year pro Roschon Johnson and seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai in their backfield. A veteran addition of significance appears unlikely after Nick Chubb signed with the Texans and J.K. Dobbins joined the Broncos.
That leaves the 26-year-old Swift as the Bears’ feature back following a disappointing season in which he averaged 3.7 yards per carry. With new head coach Ben Johnson leading the Bears, there were initially questions about Swift's fit with the team. The Lions traded Swift to the Eagles in 2023 after Swift had a limited role in Detroit's offense in 2022, when Johnson served as the team's offensive coordinator.
For his part, Swift is eager to put 2024 in the past and produce at a higher level this season.
“We won (five) games last year,” Swift said during veteran minicamp. “So, everything is under a microscope when you don’t have team success. I'm being very critical about how I played last year. Excited about this year.
“Another opportunity, first and foremost. With everybody new, the coaching staff, the culture that has changed. You can tell Ben has done a hell of a job so far, day in and day out. Everything he's doing is for the better of this organization and this city."
The Bears ranked 25th in the NFL with 102.0 rushing yards per game in 2024. Privately, they've been confident in Swift rebounding this season. Chicago’s offensive line will feature three new starters in the interior – left guard Joe Thuney, center Drew Dalman and right guard Jonah Jackson – which should create better rushing lanes inside the tackles.
The Bears are also hopeful that the turnover on their coaching staff will benefit Swift and their other running backs. New running backs coach Eric Bieniemy will be tasked with getting the most out of Swift.
“His style of coaching is something I kind of gravitate to,” Swift said. “Holding everybody accountable and saying that the big stuff is the little stuff. He’s the type of coach you want to play for. He isn’t going to let anything go by the wayside, just like Ben and everybody else on the staff. You feel like you have to turn your level up as well.”
While their previous union didn't last long in Detroit, Johnson offered a strong endorsement of Swift as Chicago's running back back in February, shortly after he was hired. Johnson has remained confident in Swift throughout this offseason program.
“He is a fierce competitor,” Johnson said. “And that’s what I love about him. When the lights are bright, you’re going to know exactly what you’re going to get. If you tell him that you’re going to need one yard, four yards, he’s going to find a way to put his shoulder down and move the pile and get that done for you.”
Part of Johnson’s job will be utilizing the Bears’ running backs in appropriate roles, an element that was missing under the direction of former head coach Matt Eberflus and former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron in 2024.
During a critical, now-infamous goal-to-go sequence last September in Indianapolis, Waldron called running back Khalil Herbert's number three times in a row even though he isn't a short-yardage back. On fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, the Bears then ran a pitch play to Swift on the edge that resulted in a 12-yard loss in an eventual 21-16 loss.
The better idea would've been to utilize Johnson, the team’s top short-yardage back. Johnson rushed just 55 times for 150 yards (2.7 yards per carry) in 2024. The rookie Monangai has also earned the reputation as a tough runner and could compete with Johnson for those carries this season.
The Bears’ running back group also features veteran Travis Homer, a key special teams player, along with Ian Wheeler and Deion Hankins.
The group remains mostly the same as last season, but the Bears are hopeful to see much more out of their backfield in 2025.
"The little stuff is big – details, tracks, how Ben wants it has to be to a T,” Swift said. “That's the stuff that we're working on, not just running backs, but the offense. All the things I hear him saying in meetings, it's little stuff, but it's big things in this offense because it matters.
“You're just trying to get better at something."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.