D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai picked up right where they left off last season.

In the Bears' historic 59-37 Week 1 win over the Panthers, the pair each ran for 100-plus yards, marking the first time since 1980 and only the eighth time in NFL history that a team had two players rushing for at least 100 yards in their season opener. That accomplishment comes after Swift and Monangai were the only running back duo to each amass 750 rushing yards during the 2025 season.

"What a start," Monangai said after the game. "We enjoy it for now and then onto Week 2."

Swift led the way with 124 rushing yards on 18 carries and three touchdowns — the first hat trick of his seven-year NFL career. His standout performance comes on the heels of the three-year contract extension that Swift signed Saturday morning before the Bears took off for Charlotte.

"He's had a good week, huh?" coach Ben Johnson joked in his postgame press conference. "I mean, he earned it, every step of it. We really value what he brings to the table. He's had a great spring, a great training camp, and so I don't think anybody in our building is surprised that he's out of the gate in a strong fashion."

Last season under Johnson, whom he spent nearly three years with in Detroit, Swift experienced his best season yet, recording career-highs with 1,087 yards and nine rushing touchdowns.

"All glory to God, first and foremost, for allowing me to be in this position, but to be able to stick around with this group of guys is something special, something I don't take for granted, being able to go and work alongside Ben," Swift told reporters Sunday. "Just thankful, grateful for the opportunity to continue to work."

With his extremely productive season-opening performance, Swift is well on his way to eclipsing his 2025 numbers and helping the Bears be a top rushing offense for a second consecutive year.

"He's a golden star because he can do everything," quarterback Caleb Williams said of Swift. "He can catch, he can block, obviously he can run downhill, he can run wide zone, he can run tosses and things like that. Give him the edge, and from there, he's not only getting first downs, he's trying to take them to the crib. He's a special player. Happy we've got him for the next three years."

While Swift certainly proved why the Bears wanted to lock him up past this season, the extension did not affect the Philadelphia native's mindset against the Panthers.

"I feel like I'm just getting started, man," Swift said. "I'm just grateful to be able to keep going with these guys. My mindset wasn't going to change, whether there was something done or not.

"I've got something to prove every day I wake up."

Swift played a pivotal role in sparking the Bears offense after a fumble cut their opening drive short. On their second possession, Swift carried the ball four times, and on first-and-10 from Carolina's 45-yard line, turned what would have been a seven-yard carry into a 32-yard pickup by fighting through a tackle and spinning away from a Panthers defender to get the Bears into the red zone. Two plays later, the Bears reached the end zone for the first of eight touchdowns.

While Swift acknowledged his ability to make a defender miss to get to the second level, he credited the "good blocking up front" for the long run. The efficiency in the Bears' run and pass blocking against the Panthers was a common sentiment echoed by members of the offense after the game, and it was more than just the offensive line putting in the work.

"We knew what we were capable of on the ground," right guard Jonah Jackson said. "We've got one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, the best run-blocking tight end group, wide receivers that aren't afraid to stick their nose in it, backs that can go side to side, downhill and a QB who can get loose and wiggle, too. And a hell of a play-caller."

The most prominent example of the all-around blocking effort was Monangai's 61-yard touchdown run at the end of the third quarter, which came right after Swift's second score of the day, which put the Bears up 45-31.

After the defense forced a turnover on downs at the Chicago 39-yard line, Monangai took the handoff on the first play of the drive, ran through a hole up the middle created by the offensive line, evaded a tackler and then outran four Carolina defenders who were chasing him from behind.

"You dream of stuff like that," Monangai said of the TD. "That's how you draw it up.

"I was just trying to make that play count."

It was receivers Jahdae Walker and Luther Burden III, however, who were the play's unsung heroes. At the line of scrimmage, Burden delivered a hard block on Panthers safety Tre'von Moehrig to help seal off the initial hole for Monangai to power through. Once Monangai broke free, Walker met up with him at midfield to block the lead defender and allow the second-year pro to find the end zone.

"I saw Jahdae chasing down and making sure that wasn't just a big play, but a touchdown," veteran receiver Kalif Raymond said. "I mean, it's a huge play for Kyle, but Jahdae's out there taking guys to make sure it happens. I mean, it goes from a big play, a first down to a touchdown. That's a testament to the guys blocking. I think Lu had a big block too … so just all the stuff working together, and that's what you want, especially for the backs we have."

After his touchdown, Monangai remained an asset as the Bears worked to not just maintain, but extend their fourth-quarter lead. On the Bears' final offensive possession, Monangai carried the ball three straight times, forcing Carolina to use all three of their second-half timeouts. Those runs led to Swift's third touchdown, a 28-yard run, that put the final nail in the coffin.

Swift and Monangai showcased their ability to work off each other to fuel the Bears' rushing attack, which accounted for 291 of the offense's 552 total yards. Monangai expressed his excitement about continuing to grow alongside Swift following the veteran's payday.

"Day in and day out from the moment I got here, just watching [Swift] and how he goes about his business," Monangai said. "He's a competitor just like me, so it's just building off each other, growing and learning how to play off each other, honestly. So, I'm happy for him."

Even when Swift and Monangai didn't have the ball in their hands, the pair were just as productive, picking up blitzes and blocking for the Bears' pass catchers.

While Williams shined in the first game of his NFL season, throwing for 269 and two touchdowns and adding to the rushing attack with 65 yards on 10 carries and two other scores, the Bears know the foundation of Johnson's high-powered offense is the rushing attack. Starting the season strong in the run game behind Swift and Monangai was the plan all along, and the entire team was bought in.

"It starts up front, and it starts with the run game, and Ben makes that very clear," tight end Cole Kmet said Sept. 2. "So, that's no secret to the offensive side of the ball. We expect not only to block well up front, but our perimeter guys to get in there and do what they've got to do in the run game and be physical.

"So, there's a calling on every guy to do their part in the run game, and we all feel it from there."