D'Andre Swift eager to give it another go in Ben Johnson's Bears offense

The Bears' hiring of red-hot offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was a boon for every offensive player on the roster, especially skill-position players who could envision themselves becoming the next Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Jared Goff or Sam LaPorta.

Every offensive player that is, except maybe running back D'Andre Swift, who begins the Johnson era trying not to become the next D'Andre Swift.

After a disappointing, but not totally unproductive, first season with the Bears in 2024 after signing a three-year, $24 million contract in free agency — when he rushed for 959 yards and six touchdowns and added 42 receptions for 386 yards — Swift already seems on the hot seat in Johnson's offense.

It's nothing against him, just his history. When Johnson became the Lions' offensive coordinator in 2022, Swift quickly became the odd-man out. He lost his starting job to Jamaal Williams, averaged a career-low 38.7 rushing yards per game and was traded to the Eagles in the 2023 offseason — after the Lions signed Montgomery in free agency and selected Jahmyr Gibbs with the 10th overall pick of the 2023 draft.

Whether it was an upgrade or a bad fit, it didn't work out. That isn't necessarily a harbinger for Swift in Johnson's offense with the Bears, but he comes in with more to prove than most. The Bears pretty clearly were interested in upgrading at running back in the draft — from Boise State's Ashton Jeanty in the top 10 (he went No. 6 overall to the Raiders) to near-misses in the second through sixth rounds before taking Rutgers Kyle Monangai in the seventh round.

So it was no surprise that Swift was just a little edgy when asked about the NFL's perception of him as ineffective between the tackles ("What can't I do?") and the notion that the Bears were looking to upgrade his position.

"Everybody has an opinion and are entitled to their own opinion," Swift told reporters Tuesday at Halas Hall after the first mini-camp practice. My job is to come in here and continue to work. I'm excited about the season. I know who I am and what I'm about — that's all. Thankful for another opportunity going into the season."

Let the record show that Swift has earned the right to believe in himself. He made the Pro Bowl with the Eagles in 2023 — rushing for 1,049 yards (a career-high 65.6 per game) and six touchdowns. He signed with the Bears in free agency (the Eagles signed Saquon Barkley), but got off to a slow start in Shane Waldron's offense (37 carries for 68 yards, 1.8 per carry in the first three games and never really got started.

He also was at the wrong place at the wrong time — like many offensive players who join the Bears. In Week 3, Swift was the helpless victim of a fourth-and-1 play call that had no chance and he lost 12 yards. Even his best rushing performance last year — 18 carries for 129 yards and a touchdown against the Commanders — turned to dust when the Bears lost on Jayden Daniels' 52-yard Hail Mary.

Asked about Swift on Tuesday, Johnson referenced his previous experience, but was general in his comments.

"Here’s what I know about him: He is a fierce competitor. And that’s what I love about him," Johnson said. "When the lights are bright, you’re going to know exactly what you’re going to get. If you tell him that you’re going to need one yard, four yards, he’s going to find a way to put his shoulder down and move the pile and get that done for you."

With few options, Johnson and the Bears will make the most of it with Swift for now, with Roschon Johnson, Monangai and holdover Travis Homer behind him entering training camp. And despite his prior experience with Johnson in Detroit, he sees the new regime is a boon for him as well.

"Another opportunity," Swift said. "With everybody new, the coaching staff, the culture that has changed. You can tell Ben has done a hell of a job so far, day-in and day-out. Everything he's doing is for the better of this organization and this city. He's done a hell of a job. Just seeing his growth as a coach and a main. Excited to play for him."

We'll see how it works out. But it seems like Ben Johnson has a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn't work in his offense. That's why veteran tight end Cole Kmet also bears watching as the season ensues. When Johnson took over as the Lions' OC in 2022, Pro Bowl tight end Ben Hockenson was the first to go — traded to the Vikings at the trade deadline. Hockenson was seeking a top-of-the-market contract at the time, which surely played a role in the move.

The Lions drafted Sam LaPorta in the second round in 2023 and LaPorta was even better as a rookie than Hockenson ever was. He had 86 receptions for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns and made the Pro Bowl. Gibbs and wide receiver Jameson Williams also have been productive, which indicates that Johnson knows what he wants.

So even Kmet's ears perked up when the Bears took tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the draft.

"At first you're taken back a little bit," Kmet said. "But Ben was awesome about it in terms of calling me right away and kind of explaining the situation. From there, you're kind of all on board and kind of understand their vision. You understand there's going to be areas where we complement each other and ... like any position room, there's going to be areas where we compete for things. That's football and that's how it should be.

"So I'm excited about it — to not only push him and for him to push me and we're going to make each other better. I think the goal is to become the best 12 [personnel, with two tight ends on the field] tandem in the league and see where we can take it from there."