NFL Insider Drops Bombshell: Why The Bears Are Targeting Travis Etienne

The Chicago Bears got some excellent production out of their running game in 2025. D’Andre Swift had the best overall season of his career, amassing 1,386 total yards and ten touchdowns. Rookie Kyle Monangai added 947 yards and five touchdowns. Ben Johnson put together the #3 rushing attack in the NFL. One would think the Bears head coach is satisfied with the current makeup of the group. Both players are still under contract next season. So you can imagine the surprise when the name Travis Etienne emerges.

Tony Pauline is a prominent insider for Essentially Sports. From what he’s hearing, the Bears are planning a strong push in free agency this March to sign the Jacksonville Jaguars’ standout running back. Etienne had one of his best seasons as well, going for 1,399 yards and 13 touchdowns. Jacksonville is hurting for cap space and doesn’t have the funds to keep Etienne on the roster. Pauline believes the Bears will position themselves for a push to grab him when the market opens this spring.

One of the players people will be focused on once free agency opens in March is running back Travis Etienne.

The Jaguars’ 2021 first-round pick is coming off his best campaign since his rookie season, rushing for 1,107 yards and seven TDs. He also added 36 receptions with six more scores.

Etienne, who was a main cog in the Jaguars’ offense as a ball carrier, pass catcher, and blocker, is set for free agency unless Jacksonville can find a way to re-sign him, but the team is expected to be cash-strapped heading into the offseason.

League insiders have long believed the Chicago Bears will be suitors for Etienne if he hits free agency.

The Bears’ interest in Travis Etienne could come from multiple angles.

He’s a year younger than Swift and has less wear and tear on the body. Remember, Swift has played six seasons in his career. Etienne has only played four. Also, the Jaguars running back is a bit bigger at 5’10, 215 lbs. Perhaps the biggest selling point for Johnson is Etienne’s power and contact balance. He has an ability to break tackles in a variety of ways, along with the speed to take carries to the house. Last but not least, he’s much better at finding the end zone. He has 27 in his past three seasons.

The thing to keep in mind with Coach Johnson is he likes players who can turn good plays into great ones. For that they need two abilities: to break tackles and speed. That is why the Detroit Lions drafted Jahmyr Gibbs a few years ago. Travis Etienne doesn’t quite have the same speed, but he’s the same type of weapon. Swift only has one year left on his contract. The Bears could cut or trade him with relative ease. That would open the door for Etienne, who would fit Johnson’s system like a glove.