The Chicago Bears were one of the most pleasant surprises in the NFL this season. Not many people saw them turning things around this quickly, and while they had to resort to game-winning drives and comebacks way too often, they should only get better with more time.
That said, head coach Ben Johnson's team will now face a first-place schedule, not to mention the uber-competitive NFC North. That's why they'll have to fix the defense, and that might mean parting ways with beloved veterans like D'Andre Swift, much to their displeasure.
As great as Swift was in 2025, the fact that the Bears can create up to $7.4 million in salary cap savings with a split (per Spotrac) has left his future up in the air. Some Chicago fans have held out hope that the two sides will find a way to continue that partnership; however, the latest comments from the veteran RB show that a divorce is still on the table.
“Hopefully, I did enough for them to want me back because I know I don’t want to go anywhere else,” Swift told the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday. “I hope it plays itself out that way. I love the city, I love the coaching staff, and the men that I work with. That’s out of my control, but if I had it my way, I’d be back. I don’t want to play nowhere else.”
D'Andre Swift-Bears Split Is Still an Offseason Possibility
Reading between the lines, it sounds like the Bears haven't given Swift any indication that they want to keep him around. With free agency beginning in less than a month, it could be that general manager Ryan Poles is still deciding who will/won't return, and his situation could come down to the wire.
While not a superstar, Swift is an above-average option at a reasonable price. He finished the season with 223 rushes for 1,07 yards (4.9 yards per carry) and nine touchdowns, adding 34 receptions for 299 yards and another score.
Any decision to move on from him wouldn't be because of him as a player or even as a person; he's well-liked in the building. Then again, money might be scarce, and the Bears have to prioritize and allocate their resources.
At the time of writing, the Bears are $5.3 million over the salary cap, per OverTheCap. As mentioned before, cutting or trading Swift before March 15 would get $7.4 million off their books, and with all the needs that Chicago has on defense, especially in the front seven, a split might be too enticing to ignore.
Moreover, rookie seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai showed signs of promise in his first year in the league. He's a different type of back, but with a base salary of just $1 million and a minuscule cap hit, the Bears might feel tempted to commit to him as their primary ball-carrier in 2026.
All of this adds up to an uncertain future for Swift, who might not get his wish granted, despite how much he'd love to stay in the Windy City. Bears fans will be closely monitoring this situation, regardless of which direction it takes.