The Bears and D’Andre Swift agreed to terms on a three-year, $33.75 million contract Friday, his agency confirmed, saving the running back from having to play this season on the last year of his deal.
The extension gives Swift guaranteed money beyond this year and helps the Bears hedge against the rising costs of running backs. Last month, the Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs, the Falcons’ Bijan Robinson and the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor agreed to top-of-the-market extensions. Swift’s new deal settles in the middle class.
After Swift posted perhaps the most impressive training camp of any Bears player, general manger Ryan Poles didn’t rule out a new deal when asked about it last week. Players and teams usually treat the first game of the year as an artificial deadline to get deals done.
“I think he’s done a great job,” Poles said then. “I love his approach this offseason. He looks amazing. Second year in [Ben Johnson’s offensive] system too. … This is where this job gets tough, trying to figure out how you want to allocate everything not only for now but into the future. We’ll have those conversations and see where we want to go with it. I love Swiftie. I love the way that he’s working.”
Poles has to be conscientious about how he allocates money next year and beyond. Quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze will be eligible for contract extensions the minute this season ends, and the Bears already presume that they’ll have to pay tight end Colston Loveland a lofty price a year later.
Swift spent his first three years in Detroit, where Johnson worked, before being traded to the Eagles in 2023. After pursuing Saquon Barkley, the Bears signed Swift to a three-year, $24 million deal in March 2024. Swift struggled in his first year with the Bears but was outstanding last season. With help from running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, who has since left for the Chiefs, Swift focused on staying true to the running path of each play and running for fewer losses. He averaged 4.9 yards per carry on 223 rushes last season after averaging 3.8 on 253 rushes a year earlier. He ran for a career-high nine rushing touchdowns last season.
“I think he’s just put himself in position to have a great year,” running backs coach Eric Studesville said Thursday. “I love how he works. He’s been more impressive in person. I was already impressed with him on tape.”
