In this 13-part series, we’ll take an in-depth look at each position group for the Chicago Bears with an eye toward the 2025 season. We’ll speculate on who stays, who goes, and some potential additions we’d like to see general manager Ryan Poles make.

in the NFL. Ben Johnson’s Detroit Lions ran the ball about 46% of the time, which ranked 8th. The Lions had two starter-level tailbacks that they used in tandem, and they combined for over 3,000 yards from scrimmage.

The Bears had one viable running back on the roster in 2024, and while D’Andre Swift had a career-high 1,345 yards from scrimmage, he’d be more effective if he had a reliable RB2 or, better yet, if he were the RB2.

The last year Swift was with the Lions (2021), he had a career-best 5.5 yards per carry on 99 attempts while chipping in with 48 receptions. If the Bears can find another back, I’d expect Swift’s touches to be closer to ’21 than the 295 he had a season ago.

Here’s how Chicago’s RB room currently shapes up.

D’Andre Swift – Signed through 2026 – Some fans immediately penciled Swift in as a cut candidate when the Bears hired Johnson, but if he’s let go, the Bears would have a $8.7 million dead cap hit. I think his roster spot is safe, and Ben Johnson will get another back to split time with him.

Roschon Johnson – Signed through 2026 – I was a fan of the Bears drafting RoJo, but I’ve yet to be impressed by anything he’s done on the field. He’s an okay player. He can play special teams, he can catch, he can pass block, and at 225 pounds, he can fall forward for a few yards. I see him sticking around in 2025; I’d just like to see him as the RB3 or RB4.

Travis Homer – Free agent – Homer was a fine reserve/special teamer, but I think his time in Chicago is over.

Darrynton Evans – Free agent – Evans has been bouncing around the NFL since 2020 when he was a third-round pick, and his 2024 stop with the Bears was his ninth stop in his career.

Ian Wheeler – Signed through 2026* – Wheeler was a fun story last preseason, and it was unfortunate a knee injury stole his entire 2024. He’ll be in the mix for a reserve role.

*He’ll be a restricted free agent in 2027

2025 OUTLOOK – The Bears will target another back, and while it won’t be a Sonic and Knuckles situation, expect the other back to complement Swift’s skill set. This is a deep running back class, so don’t expect them to draft one at tenth overall. They’ll wait and get a guy later, like Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, Arizona Stete’s Cam Skattebo, South Carolina’s Raheim Sanders, or one of the Ohio State backs, TreVeyon Henderson or Quinshon Judkins.

If the Bears go the free agent route, the Packers’ A.J. Dillon’s physical style would fit in Chicago as a change of pace from Swift. He missed all of 2024 on injured reserve but is fully healthy now.

Denver’s Javonte Williams will be a bit pricier, but if the Bears are serious about upgrading the backfield, Williams has three down ability, which would allow Swift to be the RB2.

Detroit’s Craig Reynolds is a restricted free agent, so I could see the Bears signing him to an offer sheet.