When the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson, many assumed D’Andre Swift wouldn’t stick around long. However, as training camp approaches, it’s clear Swift will have a significant role in the offense, landing him at No. 14 on the list of most important Bears for 2025.
Ranking Most Important Bears in 2025: No. 14 D'Andre Swift
Swift and Johnson reminisce about their days together in Detroit. While Swift was solid under Johnson, the Lions soon traded him to Philadelphia, where he blossomed.
After a bit of a down year last season, it seemed likely Johnson would move on from Swift. The Bears reportedly targeted Ashton Jeanty and TreVeyon Henderson in the early rounds of the draft but came up short. Instead, they waited until the seventh round to address running back, selecting a player whose skill set complements Roschon Johnson rather than threatens Swift’s role.
Only Travis Homer brings a similar skill set to Swift, which suggests his place at the top of the depth chart is secure. With that in mind, it’s hard to rank him any lower; he could even lead all Bears skill players in touches.
That said, Swift has always been part of a committee backfield, and one of Kyle Monangai or Johnson is likely to eat into his workload. Plus, Ben Johnson’s scheme has a proven ability to generate production regardless of the back, so if Swift doesn’t deliver, Johnson may not hesitate to pivot to another option like Monangai or Johnson to get the running game on track.
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That uncertainty keeps Swift out of the Bears’ top 10 most important players, but it’s just as hard to justify ranking him much lower. He’s poised to play a vital role, even if he’s not guaranteed to dominate touches.