Like many, D'Andre Swift had a forgettable season with the Chicago Bears in 2024. Swift had 959 yards on 253 carries, with only 3.8 yards per carry in his first season after signing a three-year deal. Swift would like an opportunity for a fresh start under new head coach Ben Johnson, who has a history with Johnson dating back to when they were in Detroit.
When Swift was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2020, Johnson was a tight ends coach under then-head coach Matt Patricia. When new general manager Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell were hired in 2021, Johnson was kept and moved up to the passing game coordinator in the middle of the 2021 season, and promoted to offensive coordinator in 2022.
The Lions' offense was prolific and productive under Johnson from 2023-2024. Unfortunately, Swift was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2023 NFL Draft as they drafted Jahmyr Gibbs that same year.
Speaking of a fresh start, Bears' running backs coach Eric Bieniemy is getting one under Ben Johnson, too. Bieniemy is known for being tough on players. He shared his honest opinion on Swift's performance last season when he was a guest on the recent Chicago Bears team podcast.
Had a great and fun conversation with @ChicagoBears RB coach Eric Bieniemy. Check out Episode 137 of the Bears ETC podcast. https://t.co/c4wfAR4Dfx pic.twitter.com/0VdRyb4opF
— Jeff Joniak (@JeffJoniak) March 26, 2025
Swift was criticized last season when he was constantly being stopped for a loss or no gain because he kept bouncing outside. Yes, the Bears' offensive line was terrible. But that does not absolve Swift's decision to keep looking for big plays and keep putting the team in 2nd or 3rd and long situations.
Perhaps that is why the Bears are expected to draft a running back high in this year's draft. Bieniemy was seen with general manager Ryan Poles at the University of Texas Pro Day last week, where running back Jaydon Blue ran a 4.25 40-yard dash. They also have a visit set up with SMU running back Brashard Smith, who helped SMU reach the CFB Playoffs after rushing for 1,332 yards and scoring 18 total touchdowns.
Both Blue and Smith are built similarly to Swift, which leads many to believe they could be looking to replace him sooner rather than later. They could still draft someone like Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, or Ohio State duo TreVeyon Henderson or Quidshon Judkins and still have a chance to draft either Blue or Smith in later rounds.
While Swift should do well with a much-improved offensive line in 2025, a Swift-Johnson reunion might be short-lived depending on the direction they take in the draft.