After a down year, Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift doesn’t need any outside motivation to get back on track.
Swift, who was signed to a three-year contract last offseason, was coming off a 1,000 yard rushing season with the Philadelphia Eagles but failed to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in his first year with Chicago. Now, Swift is reunited with head coach Ben Johnson, who he played under with the Detroit Lions in 2021 and 2022.
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Much of the offseason conversation around the Bears was centered around the possibility of them adding a running back, which they didn’t do until the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft with the selection of Kyle Monangai. Even with the team adding to their running back room, Swift said that he’s got all the motivation he needs — from himself.
“I’m self-motivated. I don’t need anybody, clips or highlights or anything like that (to motivate). Like I said, I know who I am, and I know what I’m about. What motivates me is the work that I put in, how I prepare. If I do that, which I continue to do, I’m just excited. I can’t express that enough. Excited to play for Ben (Johnson) and EB (Running Backs Coach Eric Bieniemy).”
Finishing his first year in Chicago with 959 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns and adding 42 receptions for 386 yards, Swift is one of the biggest players to watch during this upcoming season. Getting more production from Swift and the running back position as a whole should help this Johnson offense be more efficient this season and take pressure off quarterback Caleb Williams.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears RB D’Andre Swift self-motivated to bounce back in 2025