Veteran running back D’Andre Swift wasn’t supposed to be the answer. Entering the 2025 season, the Chicago Bears were surrounded by questions about their backfield, their identity, and whether a disappointing 2024 campaign from Swift signaled a long-term problem. Four months later, the veteran has become one of the league’s most productive backs and a headline example of how Ben Johnson reshaped Chicago’s offense.
Swift officially earned national recognition this week after landing at No. 14 on NFL.com analyst and former Pro Bowl running back Maurice Jones-Drew’s latest Top-15 ranking. It’s a dramatic rise for a player who didn’t crack Jones-Drew’s October list. His new spot places him surprisingly just ahead of Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro and Super Bowl champion Saquon Barkley.
Jones-Drew praised Swift’s evolution, writing: “The Bears have gone from zero to hero in one season, thanks to Ben Johnson and his willingness to pound the rock to control the clock. Swift is on pace to earn his second 1,000-yard rushing campaign; he's also having his most efficient season since 2022, when he was last with Johnson in Detroit. The veteran back has had to share the load with rookie Kyle Monangia, but I like what I'm seeing from this physical duo.”
That efficiency is undeniable. Through 12 games, Swift has 173 carries for 837 yards, five touchdowns, and a strong 4.8 yards per carry. His per-carry output is a full yard higher than his Chicago debut in 2024, and his receiving role remains a valuable complement with 26 catches for 256 yards and another score.
Swift’s rise mirrors Chicago’s transformation. Johnson’s offense now mimics many of the core principles that helped Detroit thrive during the head coach’s tenure there. The Bears lead the NFL in rush attempts per game (31.2) and sit second in rushing yards (152.6) while ranking sixth in yards per carry (4.9). The advanced numbers underscore how dominant the unit has been: Chicago ranks third in EPA per rush (0.07) and first in rushing success rate at 48.8 percent.
The emergence of seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai has strengthened the foundation. After erupting for 176 yards on 6.8 yards per carry in Week 9 while Swift was out, the Rutgers product forced his way into a meaningful rotational role. He enters Week 15 with 648 rushing yards, five touchdowns, and the same 4.8 yards per carry as Swift, rare cohesion for a backfield that wasn’t expected to be this productive.
But make no mistake: Swift is the tone-setter. His burst, patience, and ability to finish runs have made him the engine behind Chicago’s rise from a bottom-tier offense to a top-eight scoring unit averaging 25.7 points per game.
As the Bears prepare for their Week 15 matchup with the Cleveland Browns, Swift isn’t just having a bounce-back year. He has become the stabilizing force Chicago hoped for and the national respect suggests the league is finally noticing.