The Chicago Bears have made the turnaround everyone predicted they would, sitting at 8-3 and atop the NFC North after 12 weeks.
While the team’s focus is squarely on finishing the year strong and contending for a title, the franchise will have some business to attend to in the offseason. Of course, Chicago will cross that bridge when it gets there, but people outside the building have the luxury of looking ahead.
Looking at where the Bears are, and where they’re headed, it seems like one veteran could be playing his final games with the team. That veteran is running back D'Andre Swift. While Swift is only in his second season with Chicago and is having another productive year, the franchise could decide to move on from the veteran in the offseason.
Bears could move on from D'Andre Swift in 2026 offseason
Swift joined Chicago in 2024, signing a three-year deal with the team. Starting at running back since he arrived, Swift had 959 rushing yards and six touchdowns, along with 42 receptions for 386 yards in 17 games in 2024. This season, in 10 games, the veteran running back has rushed for 649 yards and four touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 224 yards and another touchdown.
While he’s still productive and has one year left on his contract, the Bears are getting a lot out of rookie running back Kyle Monagai. Drafted in the seventh round of the 2025 Draft, Monagai has been featured more in Chicago’s offense as of late, and he’s delivering. In Week 9, when Swift was sidelined, Monagai started and had a breakout game, carrying the ball 26 times for 176 yards.
On the season, the rookie running back has 99 rushes for 461 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, and 10 receptions for 97 additional yards. He has given fans a glimpse of what things could look like with him as the lead back, and Chicago could explore that reality this offseason.
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The Bears have D'Andre Swift under contract for one more year, but if they’re ready to hand the run game over to Kyle Monagai, they could trade or release Swift in the offseason.