In a not-so veiled attempt to justify the contract they gave him, not to mention a lack of other options (or an unwillingness to use those other options, the Chicago Bears gave D'Andre Swift career-highs in carries (253) and touches (295) in 2024.
However, predictably, given his career history, Swift also averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry that season. The arrival of Ben Johnson as head coach in 2025 put Swift in a warm seat as the Bears' RB1, with less work also likely coming his way since Johnson was on the coaching staff in Detroit during Swift's three seasons there.
Over the course of last season, as rookie Kyle Monangai took on more work, Swift settled into his ideal role as part of a potent backfield tandem. He rebounded to a stellar 4.9 yards per carry, while setting a career-high in rushing yards (1,087) and rushing touchdowns (nine).
According to Rich Hribar of Sharp Football Analysis, Swift had 55.6 percent of the Bears' backfield touches over the final nine games of last season in a near equal share with Monangai. Overall, per Hribar, he had the sixth-highest rate of 10-plus-yard runs in the league last season, doing so on 13.5 percent of his carries.
D'Andre Swift stat further shows how Bears found his ideal role in 2025
Ian Hartitz of Fantasy Life has added another stat to a pile of evidence the Bears found the perfect role for Swift last season.
"D'Andre Swift rushing success rate (defined as % of runs that gained 40% of yards required on 1st down, 60% on 2nd down, and 100% on 3rd/4th down):
2024: 43.9% (28th among 31 RBs)
2025: 54.7% (6th)"
Hartitz seemed to use a 150-carry minimum to put Swift sixth in success rate among running backs last season. But the overall point outlining the difference between 2024 and 2025 absolutely sticks, and he was one of just nine running backs in the league with 200-plus carries and a success rate north of 50 percent in 2025.
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There's definitely a chance Monangai tips the workload split in the Bears' backfield his direction this season. But that might be even better for Swift in a contract year, with a potential rebound in his role as a pass catcher to save his legs and maximize his impact.
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