The Chicago Bears fielded the third-best rushing attack in the NFL last regular season, but the run game wasn’t as dominant when it was most important — during their two playoff games.
Head coach Ben Johnson proved his run scheme, which heavily employs zone-blocking tactics, could succeed at a high level with running backs D’Andre Swift and seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai. But Swift is entering the final year of his contract and offers Chicago an easy out via his release, which creates the opportunity to level up at the position if the team so chooses.
Tony Pauline reported from Shrine Bowl practices on Saturday, January 24 that the Bears are “emerging as suitors” for running back Travis Etienne Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason.
“League insiders have long believed the Chicago Bears will be suitors for Etienne if he hits free agency,” Pauline wrote. “While some will see Etienne for Swift as an even swap, sources say the Jags running back is a better fit for Liam Coen’s offense, as he’s much more of a pass-catching threat.”
Travis Etienne Offers Superior Contract Value to Bears as Dual-Threat Running Back
GettyRunning back Travis Etienne Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The only ways Etienne, who will play next season at 27 years old, doesn’t hit free agency is if he agrees to an extension with Jacksonville before mid-March or the Jaguars decide to use the franchise tag to keep him for one more season at what would be a significant overpay.
Etienne has earned just north of $19 million over five years in the NFL. A former first-round pick in 2021 (No. 25 overall), he inked a four-year rookie deal worth $12.9 million. The Jaguars exercised their fifth-year team option for Etienne, which paid him $6.15 million in 2026.
Spotrac projects Etienne’s market value at a new two-year contract worth a total of $13.6 million (roughly $6.8 million annually).
Etienne posted 1,107 rushing yards and seven TDs at a clip of 4.3 yards per carry in 2025. He also caught 36 passes for 292 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Releasing D’Andre Swift Offers Bears Significant Savings Against Salary Cap
GettyChicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift.
Swift thrived under Johnson’s system, posting career highs with 1,087 rushing yards and nine touchdowns scored on the ground. He also caught 34 passes for 299 receiving yards and one score.
Chicago should be able to run it back with Swift and Monangai and have similar success in 2026. But Johnson was the offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions when they traded Swift ahead of the 2023 campaign, and there are a couple of interesting free-agent running backs likely coming available this spring who might suit the Bears’ offense better.
Etienne is one of them. Breece Hall of the New York Jets is another. And Chicago can save almost $7.5 million by cutting ties with Swift before the final year of his $24 million contract.
Releasing Swift at that price and signing Etienne at Spotrac’s $6.8 million annual projection over two years secures the RB position through 2028 and saves Chicago $700,000 against the salary cap next season.
That isn’t a big number in terms of NFL cap figures, but it does make sense to save money while upgrading if Johnson and the rest of Bears brass happen to see Etienne as an improvement over Swift.
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