The Chicago Bears have some fascinating decisions to make at running back.
New Bears coach Ben Johnson’s system was its most effective, during his time as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, rotating David Montgomery and emerging star Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield.
Last season, the Lions’ explosive duo combined for 2,187 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns, as a backbone and driving force of Detroit’s prolific offense.
Meanwhile, Johnson arrives in Chicago with versatile back D’Andre Swift as the focal point of the Bears’ ground attack, but the new head coach along with general manager Ryan Poles could look to add a major upgrade at the position.
How D’Andre Swift could impact the Chicago Bears’ plans at running back
ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano profiled the biggest offseason decisions facing each team, including whether Swift’s presence would impact Chicago’s plans of pursuing one of the top free agent backs or a top running back prospect in this year’s draft, such as Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.
“Probably not,” Graziano writes for ESPN. “The free agent running back boom of 2024, of which Swift was one of the beneficiaries, is not likely to repeat itself this year, when the top free agent backs are guys like Najee Harris, Aaron Jones and Alexander Mattison. Swift is making $8 million this year, and of that, $6.11 million is fully guaranteed. So there’s a good chance he’s on the 2025 roster. But there has been a lot of chatter out there about the Bears adding another back — most of it based on the David Montgomery/Jahmyr Gibbs formula that the Lions used when new Bears coach Ben Johnson was their offensive coordinator.
“I think it’s more likely the Bears draft a running back in one of the early rounds than sign one in free agency, but that’s just because it feels like the draft class is a better place to find your RB this year than the free agent market.”
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If there were a Saquon Barkley or a Josh Jacobs in this year’s crop of free agents, the Bears would likely be aggressive there. After all, Poles and the Bears nearly signed Barkley last offseason.
However, to Graziano’s point, this is an exceptionally deep running back class, with Jeanty sitting atop the list of impact prospects.
The former four-star recruit who rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns while averaging seven yards per carry last season could make the kind of impact that Barkley did in Philadelphia and Gibbs is making with the Lions.
At 5-foot-9 and 215 pounds, Jeanty is an explosive dynamo who could develop into a game-altering weapon in the Bears’ offense, while taking significant pressure off Caleb Williams and opening up opportunities for the Bears’ weapons in the passing game, as well.
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