The Chicago Bears’ running game has been in shambles to start the 2024 NFL season, with D’Andre Swift at the center of the controversy. Despite signing a three-year, $24 million contract to be the team’s lead running back, Swift has failed to deliver. Now, video evidence makes it painfully clear why his performance has been so disappointing.
The TikTok Video Exposes Swift’s Failures
A TikTok video has gone viral among Bears fans and NFL analysts alike, showcasing just how poorly D’Andre Swift has performed through the first three games of the season. The video breaks down several plays where Swift missed glaringly obvious rushing lanes, repeatedly running into defenders or even into his own teammates instead of exploiting the open gaps created by the offensive line.
In one particularly damning clip, the video shows Swift receiving a handoff with a massive hole opening up to his left. Rather than cutting into the open space, Swift inexplicably hesitates, then attempts to bounce the run outside, only to be swallowed up by the defense for a minimal gain. This wasn’t an isolated incident. The video highlights similar plays where Swift’s lack of vision and poor decision-making turned potential big gains into frustrating losses or short-yardage runs.
Swift’s Numbers Tell the Story
The numbers back up the eye test provided by the video. Through three games, Swift has rushed for just 68 yards on 37 carries, an abysmal average of 1.8 yards per carry. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Swift ranks dead last in rushing yards over expected, meaning he’s consistently failing to gain the yards that should be there based on the blocking in front of him.
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His rush efficiency rating reflects this inefficiency, among the worst in the league. Swift spends more time moving laterally or backward rather than pushing forward and taking advantage of the gaps his offensive line creates. His tendency to hesitate or misread blocks has not only stifled the Bears’ ground game but also put added pressure on rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who has had to shoulder more of the offensive load.
The Fallout from the Video
The emergence of this video has only intensified the calls for the Bears to bench Swift. Fans and analysts alike are questioning why the Bears coaching staff continues to give him the majority of the carries when it’s clear that his performance is dragging down the offense. The video’s popularity has sparked debates on social media, with many pointing out that Swift’s issues are not just a matter of poor offensive line play but a fundamental problem with his vision and decision-making as a running back.
Some fans have suggested that the Bears should cut their losses with Swift, even if it means eating a significant amount of dead cap space. Others are advocating for more playing time to Roschon Johnson, who has shown flashes of potential in limited action this season. Johnson’s ability to hit the hole with decisiveness and contribute as a pass-catcher out of the backfield contrasts sharply with Swift’s struggles, making him an increasingly attractive option for a Bears team in need of a spark.
What’s Next for the Bears?
The Bears face a critical decision as they prepare for their Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. With their season already teetering on the brink, the coaching staff must decide whether to continue with Swift as their lead back or to give Johnson and Khalil Herbert more opportunities to turn the run game around. The video evidence and Swift’s dismal statistics make a compelling case for a change.
If the Bears hope to salvage their season and give Caleb Williams the support he needs, they can’t afford to keep sticking with what’s not working. The video has exposed Swift’s weaknesses for all to see, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Bears’ offense might be better off without him in a leading role.
The TikTok video highlighting D’Andre Swift’s failures is a stark reminder that sometimes, the numbers don’t lie. Swift’s struggles have been evident on the stat sheet, but seeing them play out on film makes it impossible to ignore how much he’s holding the Bears’ offense back. As the calls for a change grow louder, the Bears’ coaching staff must decide whether to continue down this path or make the necessary adjustments to get their season back on track. The evidence against Swift is mounting, and it’s only a matter of time before the Bears are forced to act.
All I kept asking for before the start of the season was for the Bears to win their first two games. Why would I keep advocating for such narrow early success? Reflect, if you dare.
Why aren’t the Bears at least even trying out Velus Jones at RB? They already talked about doing this. The rushing is so historically bad, and Jones has the most potential of all the backs. He has the best speed, and so far has lit it up the few times he runs. Get over the kick returns. Who cares, their kick returns. What if the Bears had Barkley 2.0 on their hands, and we’ll never know because they can’t even try 5 carries a game but must instead give almost all to 1.5 rushing average Swift?
@Dr. Melhus — They’re virtually all Ryan Poles’ guys. What I mean though, is players that never earned their position or standing on the team. Whether that player is: Lucas Patrick, or Ryan Bates — and/or every Nate Davis or D’Andre Swift between — make the player earn his rank by “performance over politics.” Avid readers of Lambert’s have penciled in names like Kiran Amegadjie and Ryan Bates into the Bears’ starting lineup. As if. . . News flash: these are players that have never played a down in a Bears’ uniform. Amegadjie played in the Ivy League — against… Read more »
@TGena: Will say it again. Roschon Johnson is one of Poles’s guys. Maybe Waldron and C-Mo pounded the table to get Swift, but the only RB on the team that Poles didn’t acquire is Herbert, and he’s not running much better than Swift. If Poles controlled which personnel get played (he doesn’t AFAIK), I can’t imagine he wouldn’t be calling for more carries for Roschon. @TGena: Are you familiar with Bears Now? It’s a YouTube channel that does kind of what happens here. The host, Harrison Graham, said after last year that the Bears should have let Flus go and… Read more »
The immediate problem with RB, D’Andre Swift is that the Bears coaches seem to feel obligated to start, and use this “second-tier” NFL RB — taking significant snaps from players with more to offer.
“Some owners, GMs, and HCs would rather “lose with ‘their guys'” than “win with ‘your guys.'” — Shannon Sharpe, “First Take”
Shannon Sharpe seems to know Ryan Poles even better than we do.