Eberflus delighted Bears moved quickly to sign 'weapon' Swift
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus explained why the team pounced on running back D'Andre Swift early in free agency.
"Just a weapon back," Eberflus said of Swift, according to Grant Gordon of NFL Network. "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."
Chicago made Swift the first player signed when the legal tampering period opened March 11, inking him to a three-year, $24-million deal.
The 25-year-old spent last season with the Philadelphia Eagles after the club acquired him in a trade with the Detroit Lions on draft weekend. He rushed for 1,000-plus yards for the first time, racking up 1,263 total yards and six scores.
However, Philadelphia utilized Swift's receiving ability less than the Lions did in the first three years of his career. He posted a career-low 39 receptions and 49 targets in 2023.
"D'Andre's looked really good during this offseason," Eberflus 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."
Swift will join a backfield that includes Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert. In 2023, Chicago ranked second in the NFL in rushing yards per contest, though many of those yards came from quarterback Justin Fields, who averaged 50.5 per game.
The Bears will have a new-look offense next season, with No. 1 pick Caleb Williams taking the starting job. The club also added veteran wideout Keenan Allen, tight end Gerald Everett, and first-round pick Rome Odunze. Chicago hired former Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron this offseason to assume the same role.
"It's a complete offense, but it's going to take work," Swift 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."
Chicago will open its campaign Sept. 8 against the Tennessee Titans.