Pittsburgh, PA – April 20, 2025. The Pittsburgh Steelers have made a splash in free agency, signing former Philadelphia Eagles running back D’Andre Swift to a one-year, $9.3 million deal, sources confirmed to ESPN Monday. The move aims to revitalize an offense seeking a spark after Najee Harris’ departure to the Chargers.
Swift, 26, joins Pittsburgh after a lackluster 2024 with the Chicago Bears, where he averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry. His $24 million, three-year deal with Chicago was cut short as the Bears pivoted to draft prospect Ashton Jeanty, freeing Swift to hit the market.
Swift’s potential remains sky-high despite last year’s dip, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said.
The Steelers, with Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell in the backfield, needed a dynamic RB1. Swift’s 2023 Pro Bowl season with the Eagles—1,049 rushing yards, 5.0 yards per carry—showcases his fit for Arthur Smith’s outside-zone scheme, unlike Harris’ 3.9 yards per carry.
He’s the speed we’ve lacked, Smith told reporters at the Combine.
Swift’s $9.3 million contract, absorbing Pittsburgh’s $2 million cap via restructurings like D.K. Metcalf’s deal, reflects GM Omar Khan’s bold vision. Swift’s 1,263 scrimmage yards in 2024, despite inefficiency, offer versatility for a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders or Mason Rudolph.
This signing screams playoff push, NFL analyst Matt Miller noted.
Chicago’s shift to Jeanty left Swift expendable, but his one missed game over two seasons signals durability. Pittsburgh’s line, bolstered by Broderick Jones, should maximize his explosive cuts, seen in his 229-yard receiving season with Detroit in 2022.
Swift’s a game-changer in our system, Khan said.
The ex-Eagle’s speed could alleviate pressure on Pittsburgh’s 19th-ranked passing game, complementing Metcalf’s deep routes. As the Steelers eye an eight-year playoff win drought’s end, Swift’s signing marks a pivotal step toward contention in 2025.
