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LAKE FOREST, Ill. – D’Andre Swift received 268 offensive touches in Philadelphia last season. That’s a lot by any metric, a whopping 55 more than in any of his previous three seasons in Detroit.

The veteran running back was efficient in that workload, averaging 4.6 yards per carry while totaling 1,263 yards from scrimmage. Those were career highs and among the NFL’s best, where Swift proved to be a true, three-down feature back.

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The University of Georgia product parlayed a trade from Detroit to Philly into a monster 2023 season that set him up to sign a three-year, $24.5 million deal with the Bears this offseason.

Before we go any further into all that, there’s an important distinction to be made. The word “proved,” a few paragraphs up only applies to one category of evaluators.

“To other people: maybe. To myself: no,” Swift said in a Thursday in one-on-one interview. “I know I’m capable of more. I still feel like I’m scratching the surface of everything I’m trying to accomplish in this league. I have high aspirations, high goals for myself. I know the type of player I am, the type of person I am and the player I can be, especially for the team we’ve got here. I’m just excited for this opportunity.”

This wasn’t an opportunity given. It was an opportunity earned. There was competition for his Swift’s services, but the 25-year old chose Chicago. The money’s good, but Swift also believes the fit was right to accomplish his main goal of ascending every year. This coming year starts on Sunday at noon CT against the Tennessee Titans in the regular-season opener at Solider Field.

“It’s something I’ve always believed in,” Swift said. “When I got to college, I wanted to make sure each year was better than the last. There’s always something you can get better at. Even if you’re doing well, you can never get too comfortable with anything. There’s always room for improvement. That’s how I look at it.”

That might not mean equaling stats, especially with Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson taking some important carries. Or maybe it will, depending on durability and efficiency.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Swift was an early and obvious free-agent target because the Bears wanted a versatile “home-run threat” who can do everything well.

Swift definitely fits that description.

He proved in Philly that he can be part of an explosive offense with quality skill players all over, as is the case in Chicago. He came to Halas Hall this spring and, after the offseason program and training camp, Swift is confident he’s signed on the right dotted line.

“Considering how comfortable I feel and how people around here view me, I feel like I made the right decision,” Swift said. “Being in a locker room with a great group of guys, and around a great coaching staff and front office is really important to me. Everybody has bought into the same goals. Everybody’s chasing, just like me. I’m excited for this opportunity to see what I can do here and help this team win.”

There’s a method to accomplishing that last part. Swift is locked into his routine, both pre- and post-practice, with little room to talk. Even the interview for this story was wedged into a small open space in his preparation cycle, which he doesn’t deviate from under any circumstances. He doesn’t seek out attention or demand it, even after a Pro Bowl year that led to a big contract.

“I don’t try to make many headlines by talking or anything like that,” Swift said. “I’m going to show you how I’ve been grinding. There’s nothing for me to say. Words don’t really mean too much. I’m going show my value through actions.”

He has done so to this point, proving a versatile asset capable of doing most anything on any down. He’s not a bruiser but he can get hard yards. He’s not an H-back but he can make a tough block. He’s not a receiver but can turn short passes into chunk yards.

Now it’s time to prove – again, to outsiders and not himself – that he can be a real catalyst and safety net for a Bears offense featuring rookie quarterback Caleb Williams.

“Whatever I’m asked to do, I can do it,” Swift said. “I can block. I can catch the ball. I can get short yardage, take it the distance – whatever is needed. I’m equipped to do it all because I work hard in every area (of the game). I’m ready to showcase that.”

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