Recently, some buzz picked up about the idea of the Chicago Bears trading for superstar running back Jonathan Taylor at some point this year. There was a feeling that the Indianapolis Colts might look to move him if their season goes south, unwilling to give him a third contract. Putting him in the Ben Johnson offense would’ve felt like cheating. Video game stuff. However, the head coach didn’t need long to poke a hole in that balloon. While not asked directly about it, Johnson did make comments that make you think no moves at running back are likely.
He spoke to Gabby Hajduk about the Bears’ running back situation ahead of the 2026 season. One thing was made crystal clear. D’Andre Swift was and still is a focal point of this offense.
“He’s a dynamic player,” Johnson said. “I’ve known that about him since he came into the league, firsthand up there in Detroit, and certainly last year I wasn’t surprised about the year he had. So, is he capable of more? Absolutely. He absolutely is. He’s a vital part of what we do here.”
One can understand the loyalty. Swift was a vital component to the Bears’ #3 rushing attack last season. He put up 1,089 yards and mostly stayed healthy. He and Kyle Monangai formed a highly effective tandem. Swift just turned 27 years old. It isn’t like he is over the hill. There is no reason to think his capability will plummet this season, barring an injury, of course.
Ben Johnson brought up a tough subject for Bears fans.
When the original signing of Swift happened in 2024, people weren’t happy. They didn’t see the logic behind throwing a hefty contract at a player who’d never established himself as a true primary back. To that point, Swift had benefitted from playing behind great offensive lines in Detroit and Philadelphia. Looking, it might be time to admit the truth. The running back has been a solid investment by the Bears. Over the past two seasons, he has rushed for 2,046 yards, added 685 through the air, and scored 16 touchdowns.
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No amount of cherry-picking will deny the truth. Those are good numbers. Above average in NFL terms. Two of his three best seasons as a professional have happened in Chicago. Signing running backs to bigger contracts might feel like bad investments these days because of the whole mystique of winning teams not needing great running backs. Yet the facts paint a different picture. Throwing money at a running back can be highly profitable to a team, provided he’s the right fit. Ben Johnson accepts that reality.
Don’t be annoyed that Swift turned out well. Enjoy it.
The best comparison for the Swift signing is probably Thomas Jones. Bears fans weren’t overly hyped about signing him as a free agent in 2004. He’d been a solid runner in Arizona and Tampa Bay, but nothing close to what you’d consider a feature back. Jones established himself as one of the more unheralded starters in the NFL over the next three years, becoming the engine of that 2006 Super Bowl team. To this day, many believe trading Jones away was one of the biggest mistakes of the decade.
Swift is much the same. He arrived with minimal fanfare. None saw him as anything close to a top guy. Then, with help from Johnson, he helps balance the offense alongside Caleb Williams in the backfield. You can win with players like that. As fun as the idea of a Jonathan Taylor might be, the reality is the Bears don’t need one. They were excellent on the ground without anything resembling a star. Swift is living proof that if you have the coaching and a solid front five, a solid back is enough.
