Bears running back D'Andre Swift has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in last Sunday's 59-37 season-opening win over the Panthers.
The seventh-year pro rushed for 124 yards and a career-high three touchdowns on 18 carries. In the process, Swift became the first Bears player with three rushing TDs in a game since Jordan Howard had three Dec. 4, 2016, in a 26-6 win over the 49ers. It was also the first time a Bears running back has rushed for at least 124 yards and three touchdowns since Dec. 17, 1995, when Rashaan Salaam ran for 134 yards and three TDs in a 31-10 victory over the Buccaneers.
Swift's effort against the Panthers came two days after he had signed a three-year contract extension through the 2029 season.
Last year, in his sixth NFL season and second with the Bears, he established career rushing highs with 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns. But it was also his first year as a pro in which he did not have a run of more than 25 yards.
In training camp, Swift vowed to produce more impact plays, saying: "The only thing I was missing last year that I need to do a better job of is I need more explosive runs, longer runs. I need to showcase that. I didn't have a lot of those last year. I think we can go out there and improve that."
Swift accomplished that goal against the Panthers with runs of 32 and 28 yards, with the latter resulting in the Bears' sixth rushing touchdown of the game, tying their franchise record. It was their most rushing TDs since they also had six Oct. 19, 1941, in a 49-0 win over the Lions.
Swift's rushes of more than 25 yards in his career:
- 2020 with Lions: 54
- 2021 with Lions: 57
- 2022 with Lions: 50, 50, 31
- 2023 with Eagles: 43, 36, 35, 35, 29, 26
- 2024 with Bears: 56, 39, 36
- 2025 with Bears: none
- 2026 with Bears: 32, 28
Swift has now won two NFC Offensive Player of the Week Awards. His first came in Week 2 of the 2023 season when he was a member of the Eagles and rushed for 175 yards and one TD in a 34-28 win over the Vikings.
Swift is the first Bears player to be chosen the NFC Offensive Player of the Week since tight end Colston Loveland (Week 9 last season) and the first Bears running back since Howard (Week 8 in 2016).
