When Ben Johnson walked into the locker room after Sunday’s narrow loss, the frustration was thick enough to taste. Yet amid the clatter of helmets and the silence of defeat, his attention went straight to one player: D’Andre Swift.
The running back sat quietly at his locker, headphones dangling, his eyes fixed on the floor. Two underwhelming performances in a row had put him under fire — from fans, analysts, and even fantasy football owners. But Johnson didn’t approach with anger. He approached with purpose.
“Keep your head up,” one insider overheard Johnson say. “We’ll fix this.”
At Monday’s press conference, the Bears’ head coach expanded on that moment. “Look, it’s easy to criticize when things aren’t clicking,” he said. “But players like D’Andre — they don’t forget how to play football overnight. We’ve just got to get him back into rhythm.”
Johnson’s defense of Swift wasn’t blind loyalty — it was strategic trust. The former Lions and Eagles star has shown glimpses of his old explosiveness, but the n
ch Ben Johnson stepped to the podium, but his expression said more than any stat sheet could. D’Andre Swift’s last two games have been a study in frustration — flashes of brilliance shadowed by missed opportunities. When asked about his running back’s performance, Johnson didn’t reach for excuses. Instead, he leaned into a word he’s preached since training camp: accountability.
“D’Andre knows what the standard is,” Johnson began, voice calm but edged with steel. “He’s a playmaker. We’ve seen what he can do when he’s locked in. But right now, we need consistency — not just moments.”
It’s been a puzzling stretch for Swift, whose production has dipped just as the Bears’ offense has started finding rhythm elsewhere. Two games ago, he fumbled on a key third-quarter drive that shifted momentum; last Sunday, he looked hesitant hitting holes that used to burst open for double-digit gains. Fans flooded social media with questions — was he injured, distracted, or simply misused?
Johnson’s tone suggested none of the above. He emphasized that Swift’s talent isn’t in question — only his focus. “D’Andre’s a competitor,” Johnson said. “He feels it when he leaves plays on the field. But he’s not running from that. He’s addressing it.”
Behind the scenes, teammates say Swift has taken the criticism personally, spending extra hours in film review and footwork drills. “He’s owning it,” one offensive lineman shared anonymously. “That’s what Coach wants — no pointing fingers, just work.”
Johnson’s remarks also hinted at a philosophical shift within the offense. With rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels emerging as a dual-threat weapon, the team’s reliance on traditional run schemes is fading. That change may be forcing Swift to adapt faster than expected.
Still, Johnson ended his presser with quiet faith. “He’ll bounce back,” he said, pausing before leaving the podium. “You don’t lose talent overnight.”
As Chicago prepares for a pivotal divisional matchup, all eyes will be on Swift — not just for yards, but for redemption. The Bears’ offense can’t rise without him.
