HC Matt Eberflus: Bears moved quick to sign 'weapon back' D'Andre Swift

Quicker than a hiccup, the Chicago Bears pounced upon D’Andre Swift in free agency.

Brimming with potential during his tenure with the Detroit Lions, Swift put forward his best and fleetest foot in 2023 with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Clearly impressed, the Bears wasted no time and agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal with Swift on the first day of free agency’s legal tampering period March 11.

The Bears wanted a game-breaking back, a more dangerous element in the backfield, if you will, and they believe they got him.

“Just a weapon back,” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus answered Friday when asked why the team moved so quickly to sign him. “You know we really needed that guy that can really operate on third down and even on first or second down and be a weapon in the deep part of the field and the short part of the field and take it the distance. And he’s got a lot of gas.”

The aptly named Swift topped out at 20.37 mph in a Week 2 game against the Minnesota Vikings last season, per Next Gen Stats, and finished with a half-dozen runs of 20-plus yards. In his fourth NFL campaign, he also earned his first Pro Bowl Games selection, having rushed for 1,049 yards on 229 carries (4.6 yards per carry) with an additional 214 yards on 39 receptions. It was his first 1,000-yard season as he garnered career bests in yards, carries, first downs (50) and yards per game (65.6) — by nearly 20 yards.

In offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s system, Swift is now one of an array of threats anticipating targets from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, along with wide receivers DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze and tight end Cole Kmet.

“I feel like we got a lot of stuff in this offense to get our playmakers the ball,” Swift said.

Though there’s plenty of hands to feed, Eberflus foresees Swift seeing plenty of carries and targets.

“D’Andre’s looked really good during this offseason,” the third-year coach said. “Obviously as you guys know he’s really quick, he’s a weapon out of the backfield, which is outstanding for our passing game and it’s going to create some mismatches for us. He can do a lot of things from the backfield, we can split him out wide and run the full route tree, so he’s exciting to watch.”

Though he’s the lead back, Swift doesn’t anticipate being a workhorse with Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson also in the RB room, nor does he think that’s the best approach.

“Whatever they see fit for me. That’s kinda how I’ve always been,” Swift said when asked what percentage of carries he expected to see. “Nowadays you need that kinda, that 1-2, 2-3, you need multiple guys. It’s a long season and it’s long games played. You need that multi-back system as far as for the season, keep guys fresh.”

The 25-year-old back’s legs were plenty fresh last year for Philly. Though the Eagles stumbled down the stretch, they still made the playoffs, marking Swift’s initial postseason opportunity.

Set for his fourth season as a member of the NFC North, Swift believes the division is wide open and a repeat trip to the playoffs could be on the horizon for him.

“I feel like the division’s up for grabs, that’s how I’m going to look at it,” he said.

Of course, playing with the Bears and in the NFC North gives Swift a chance to play against the Lions for the first time. Despite a smile, Swift downplayed any anticipation of squaring off against his former squad when asked Friday.

“Another team. That’s how I’m going to look at it,” he said. “I ain’t going to say too much about it. It’s just another team, that’s all.”

The Bears are banking on Swift not being just another back though.

They’re anticipating big plays out of the backfield as part of a new-look Chicago offensive.

Swift is excited for the prospects but realistic in the approach, as it’s a whole new ballgame on that side of the ball.

“It’s a complete offense, but it’s going to take work,” he said. “It’s a new offense, we all new here. Coaching staff’s new. Rookie quarterback. So it’s going to be a learning experience for everybody, but I’m confident in the group we have.”