D’Andre Swift isn’t Saquon Barkley, the more decorated — and more oft-injured — running back the Bears expressed interest in signing early this offseason. Swift isn’t six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen, the most famous of the Bears’ offseason acquisitions, either.
Swift, though, could be precisely what the Bears need — a running back to take the pressure off quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. They gave Swift a three-year, $24 million deal — Barkley got a $13.5 million more from the Eagles — to do just that.
Swift’s goal for his first season with the Bears is to justify that investment.
“Be exactly who I am and why they brought me here,” he said. “Continue to perform, first and foremost. Continue to produce at a high level. And put the league on notice.”
He did that when he finished fifth in the NFL with 1,049 rushing yards — behind Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, Kyren Williams and James Cook — in his one year with the Eagles. That Pro Bowl performance was more than the Bears’ two top running backs, Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman, combined for in 2023.
A repeat of that career-best showing — Swift didn’t eclipse 620 rushing yards in any of his three seasons with the Lions — would be a boon to Williams and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, both in their first year inside Halas Hall.
Unlike the last three years, the Bears won’t lean on their quarterback to run the ball himself. The onus falls on Swift, who figures to get about 60-65% of the Bears’ handoffs.
“Making sure we stay on track for the offense, first and foremost,” Swift said. “[We] don’t wanna be in no third-and-longs or second-and-longs — it’d make it kinda hard on Shane and Caleb. As much as we can help on offense collectively to make it easier on the quarterback, we’re looking to do so.”
For Swift, that includes catching the ball. He’s averaged 49 catches and 353 yards per year through his first four seasons, but envisions making a bigger impact through the air in Waldron’s system.
“Just think of all the different ways we can use him now,” running backs coach Chad Morton said. “We already know he can run the ball. But just, it opens up all the screen games. We can put him as a receiver, have him run option routes out there, jet sweeps or even a decoy.
“There’s so many things that are available for him. … . He’s just going to be so valuable. Not just as a runner, but for the entire offense — and all the stuff he can do.”
The 25-year-old Swift been picking the brain of Allen, who’s considered one of the best route-runners in the NFL. Swift has been interested in how Allen releases from the line of scrimmage and then creates separation from defenders. On “choice” routes — where pass-catchers change their routes based on the coverage they see — Swift wants to know what Allen sees.
“He’s got a lot of God-given ability,” Swift said, “but there’s things he’s taught me since he’s been here that I appreciate.”
The running back already has a pass-catching knack.
“He’s got great hand-eye coordination,” Morton said. “He’s really smart. He knows how to read man [and] zone [coverage]. He’s just very detailed. He knows where to be at the right time, knows spacing very well.
“A lot of guys, they can’t read zone very well and get too close to the defender. He just understands spacing. He’s just a smart kid. He works his butt off too. He’s just all business.”
Passing game coordinator Thomas Brown noticed that attitude — a “no BS-type mentality,” he said — once the two started working together
Taking handoffs will be the first priority — but not the only one.
“A great balanced offense [is] able to do everything: run, pass, play action,” Swift said. “Whatever we need to do to be successful, that’s how I see this offense going.”
Run games always carry a whiff of the unknown coming out of training camp. Teams don’t practice with tacklers taking running backs to the ground. Starters play so little in preseason games — Swift logged two exhibition snaps, taking a screen pass for 42 yards and a handoff for 2 — that it’s impossible to feel the rhythm of a run game until the regular season begins.
“I feel it’s unknown for everybody,” Swift said. “We haven’t played a full game yet, collectively as a group, yet.”
Swift knows one thing for sure once the regular season starts Sunday against the Titans.
“If we’re winning,” he said, “I’m going to be a big part of that in some way, shape or form.”