Bears' dominant rushing attack faces a potential shakeup. A star running back's future is uncertain, with a promising rookie poised to take the reins.
The Chicago Bears were finally able to put together a reliable running game in 2025.
Chicago fans know all too well how frustrating the running game was under former head coach Matt Eberflus. The Bears averaged the eighth-fewest rushing yards (102) per game in 2024 with Eberflus at the helm.
Eberflus was fired halfway through the 2024 season, and Ben Johnson stepped in last offseason, whose offense relied heavily on establishing the run. General Manager Ryan Poles knew that Swift was obviously a premier player, but he also knew that the Bears needed some help in the backfield.
Poles found a hidden gem in the 2025 NFL Draft, selecting running back Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers in the seventh round. He also beefed up the offensive line with the additions of Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman.
The Bears had a slow start at first, but finished the year with the third-most rushing yards per game (144.5). Swift had over 1,000 rushing yards, and Monangai had 783 in 2025.
The running backs became a powerful one-two punch in the Chicago backfield, but that could be changing in the near future.
Given how the NFL is, teams are constantly shuffling players to free up cap space. The Bears were no strangers to that this offseason.
D.J. Moore was traded to the Buffalo Bills, and Tremaine Edmunds was released, freeing up $31.5 million in cap space. The team also let Kevin Byard, Nahshon Wright, Jaquan Brisker, and many others leave in free agency.
ESPN's Matt Bowen looked ahead to what 2027 could hold for the Bears and believed that Swift could be the next major player that the team lets leave in free agency.
"Swift boosted his value last season in coach Ben Johnson's offense. He rushed for a career-high 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns, while adding 34 receptions. Part of a backfield rotation, he fits best in a zone-heavy scheme where he can press the ball to daylight and contribute to the pass game."
Swift joined the Bears in 2024 as a free agent, and his contract runs out in 2027. He was very productive for the Bears last season, finishing with 1,087 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
However, he isn't getting any younger.
Swift will be 28 next year, and with how volatile the running back market is, he could very well be looking for another team in 2027. Plus, Chicago has a promising talent on the roster in Monangai, who will still be on his rookie deal until 2029.
This move will be a tough one for the Bears to make, given how good a player Swift is, but ultimately it could be the right one. Just like with Byard, Wright, and Brisker, Swift could be a cap casualty next offseason.