Bears reward one of their top offensive weapons in a big way to cross off one final box before the start of the regular season
The Chicago Bears have agreed to a new three-year extension with RB D’Andre Swift ahead of the first game of the regular season.
The Chicago Bears crossed one last box off the checklist before the start of the regular season, signing running back D’Andre Swift to a long-term extension that keeps him in Chicago through the 2029 season.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it is a three-year deal that is worth $33.75 million with $27.5 million guaranteed. A well deserved sign of appreciation for one of the team’s top offensive weapons ahead of Week 1.
The extension was expected to be in the works going into what would have been Swift’s final season of the original three-year deal he originally signed with the Bears back in 2024. General manager Ryan Poles hinted at this being a possibility for a player the organization values highly in this offense.
“I think he’s done a great job. I love his approach to this offseason,” Poles explained. “He looks amazing. Second year in the system, too. I think the combinations of having EB (Eric Bieniemy) and (Eric) Studesville has been awesome for him. I like where he’s at right now. This is where this job gets tough is trying to figure out how you want to allocate everything. Not only for now but in the future… But, I love Swifty and love the way that he’s working.”
Timing matters more than anything for this extension with D’Andre Swift
Swift brings a lot to the table and is a big part of what Chicago does on the ground and through the air and is poised for a big year. Bears head coach Ben Johnson has talked numerous times about how important Swift is to this offense and the vital role he plays.
Getting this deal done before the regular season is a significant move for a front office that clearly views the running back as a cornerstone piece to this entire operation.
This is a major payday for Swift, who was set to be the top free agent running back of the 2027 class. He now comes off that list entirely with long-term security in place in Chicago. Beyond the financial implications for Swift himself, the extension is a statement about where this offense is heading.
Swift is the focal point of Johnson’s offense, and the Bears get to keep that continuity going. Last season, he posted career highs across the board in his first year working with Johnson again, forming a productive tandem with now second-year running back Kyle Monangai. Now the rest of the offense can keep the ball rolling for years to come, and Johnson’s system won’t miss a beat with Swift locked in as a main piece for the next four seasons.
Price was only going to go up, so the Bears are smart acting on this now
Getting Swift paid before the 2026 season was the smart play by Poles and the front office. Swift had arguably the best offseason out of anyone on the entire roster. He looked phenomenal throughout training camp, hitting big plays and understanding the benchmarks and landing spots the Bears are looking for him to hit in Year 2 of this system.
He’s been executing at a high level and a high clip, and Chicago smartly rewarded him now because the price was only going to go up after this season if they let him play out that final year of his deal.
The Bears offense is now ready to enter the 2026 season with high expectations, and Swift being locked in long-term knocks off one task for the 2027 plans. For a team building around Caleb Williams and Johnson’s scheme, keeping the running game’s centerpiece in place was a necessary step and Swift certainly deserved this payday.
