With NFL free agency inching closer and closer, fans in the Windy City are wondering what the Chicago Bears will do to bolster their chances of making a deeper playoff run in 2026.
Most Bears fans want the team to address their pass rush, while also re-signing some of their key free agents in the secondary. Running back is not one of those alarming issues that they must fix, but that doesn’t mean the Bears shouldn’t completely shut down the idea if a better option is available.
Late last month, Tony Pauline of Essentially Sports reported that the Bears would be suitors for Travis Etienne if he hits free agency. For Chicago to even consider making such a move, it would have to cut ties with D’Andre Swift, who is coming off his second 1,000-plus yard rushing performance in 2025.
However, it seems as if another RB-needy team is throwing its hat into the mix. According to Pete Sweeney of the Kansas City Star, Etienne has “legitimate interest” in joining the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are in more of a dire situation than the Bears at running back, as they currently don’t have a clear RB1 heading into 2026.
Chiefs Suddenly Jumping into the Mix for Travis Etienne Could End Bears’ Dreams
When it was initially rumored that the Bears would be interested in Etienne if he became a free agent, it didn’t make much sense, considering Swift's performance in 2025. Swift, who is the same age as Etienne, played much better in his second year in the Windy City, thanks to a much-improved offensive line and playcaller.
Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai helped the Bears become the third-best rushing attack in the NFL with 144.5 yards per game this past season. That said, Swift will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2026 season, and if they were to cut him before the start of free agency, the Bears would net $7.5 million in cap savings and only take $1.3 million in dead money, per OverTheCap.
The Bears could hypothetically use that cap space to go after Etienne, who will likely want more than what Javonte Williams got from the Dallas Cowboys (three-year deal worth $24 million with $16 million guaranteed).
If you’re Bears general manager Ryan Poles, are you willing to get in a bidding war with the Chiefs over Etienne, considering the other needs on defense? Things like the safety room and pass rush need more love than the backfield, making it easy to see why fighting with Kansas City might be counterproductive.
The Chiefs are dealing with their own financial restraints, as OverTheCap lists them as being more than $11.3 million above the limit. While that might impact their potential Etienne pursuit, the fact that their RB room lacks any notable names — unlike the Bears, who have Swift and Monangai — the Chiefs could be desperate enough to keep tinkering with the books to make a tempting offer.
As great as adding Etienne would be, the Bears have already proved they can run wild over the competition with what they have. If a path to the two sides opens up, great. But if not, it won't be the end of the world, and Chicago fans should still be excited by the team's offensive outlook, regardless of who's signed next month.