The Chicago Bears already handed out one big-time extension in training camp when they signed right tackle Darnell Wright to a four-year, $114 million deal in early August. Could they pay another offensive star before the new season?
Coming out of the Bears’ second preseason game, The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs floated the possibility of the team signing veteran running back D’Andre Swift to a new contract extension before Chicago plays its regular-season opener on September 13.
“Is another extension a possibility before the season starts?” Biggs wrote in his latest column on August 23. “If a deal is to be done before the September 13 opener at Carolina, D’Andre Swift is the player to keep an eye on. Swift is entering the final year of the three-year, $24 million contract he signed in free agency in 2024.”
While Biggs added that he has “no idea what the chances are” of the Bears extending Swift before the start of the 2026 season, the 27-year-old veteran running back rushed for 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns — both career highs — in 2024 to help pace the team to the third-best rushing offense in the league, underscoring his value.
“Swift could go from being a player who a lot of folks wondered might not be a fit for new coach Ben Johnson to emerging as a building block for the near future,” Biggs wrote.
D’Andre Swift Has Earned New Contract Consideration
While expectations varied after a disappointing 2024 season, Swift firmly put himself in the conversation to stick around longer in Chicago with his strong 2025 campaign.
Swift averaged a career-best 4.9 yards per carry over 16 games during his first season reunited with Johnson, who served as his offensive coordinator in 2022 with Detroit. He also finished with a career-best 1,386 scrimmage yards, catching 34 passes for 299 yards to outdo his scrimmage total from his 2023 Pro Bowl season in Philadelphia.
Part of Swift’s success came from the Bears’ reliance on a one-two combo in their backfield, splitting touches between him and 2025 breakout rookie Kyle Monangai in an effort to keep both of their backs fresh and healthy. He also reaped the benefits of playing behind a new-and-improved offensive line and a familiar run-focused system.
On an individual level, though, Swift made the most of his improved surroundings. He took advantage of the better rushing lanes in Johnson’s new blocking scheme — which touted the NFL’s fifth-best run block win rate — and hit them with greater anticipation. He also eased Caleb Williams‘ development as a pass-catcher despite a few hiccups.
As a result, the question about Swift’s future is no longer about whether he has earned another contract. It is about whether the Bears can afford to prioritize him after 2026.
Can Bears Afford to Extend D’Andre Swift Past 2026?
Swift has opened the door to the possibility of remaining in Chicago past 2026 with his improved play, but the Bears have other things to consider beyond his raw value.
For starters, an extension for Swift is unlikely to come cheap. He is earning $8 million per season on his current contract, which ranks 20th among league running backs in average annual value after a slew of high-priced extensions during the 2026 offseason. To breach the top 10, Swift would need more than $13 million per year on his next deal.
The Bears can certainly afford that price in terms of cap space, but there are legitimate questions about whether they should pony up a new deal for Swift in that price range.
Not only do the Bears have a potential lead-back option for the future in Monangai, but they also have a few other offensive stars coming due for new deals in the near future. The biggest among them is quarterback Caleb Williams, who could reset the market at the position as soon as the 2027 offseason if he continues to improve his play in 2026.
The Bears also have wide receiver Rome Odunze — their No. 9 overall pick in 2024 — coming due for a new deal within the same time frame. While it makes more sense for the Bears to pick up Odunze’s fifth-year option at this stage, it still won’t come cheap.
None of that precludes the Bears from working out a new arrangement with Swift, but it adds context that may limit their spending power — at least their willingness to spend.
Bears Insider Hints $24 Million Star Could Sign Next Big Extension