The entire NFL is closely following Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty’s potential Heisman Trophy campaign in 2024, eagerly anticipating his possible entry into the 2025 NFL draft. However, there is one team Jeanty is not interested in joining: the Chicago Bears.
During a live stream over Boise State’s bye week, Jeanty was asked where he’d like to play in the NFL. He highlighted the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys as his preferred teams.
Before naming those teams, someone in the chat asked him about playing for the Bears, prompting Jeanty to candidly explain why Chicago wouldn’t be a good fit for him. “Bears? Y’all already have D’Andre Swift,” he said. “And honestly, Chicago is too cold for me. I can’t handle that.”
Ashton Jeanty Could Break All-Time Rushing Record
Ashton Jeanty isn’t just having an impressive start to the 2024 college football season—he’s making history, chasing Barry Sanders’ legendary NCAA single-season records.
Through Boise State’s first six games, Jeanty has already amassed 1,248 rushing yards, putting him over 200 yards ahead of the second-place rusher, Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, who has played an additional game. Jeanty’s staggering 9.9 yards per carry leads all FBS running backs with at least 75 carries as of Week 7.
If Jeanty can slightly increase his current pace of 208 rushing yards per game, he’ll be in striking distance of breaking Sanders’ iconic single-season rushing record of 2,628 yards set during his 1988 Heisman-winning campaign. Jeanty has also tallied 17 rushing touchdowns, giving him a shot at Sanders’ record of 37 touchdowns.
Even if Jeanty falls short of setting new records, he remains the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy (+225), with Miami quarterback Cam Ward trailing at +600, according to the latest ESPN Bet odds. If Jeanty captures the prestigious award, he’d be the fifth non-quarterback to win the Heisman since 2000.
Too bad he’s not a fan of the cold, right, Bears fans?
Bears’ Run Game Looks Improved Ahead of Week 8
Even if Ashton Jeanty isn’t an option for the Bears in the 2025 draft, they might still explore adding a running back. While they’ll have D’Andre Swift and 2023 fourth-round pick Roschon Johnson under contract, Khalil Herbert and Travis Homer are set to become free agents in 2025, creating a potential need for another young back to fill the No. 3 spot in the rotation.
However, if the Bears’ current backfield continues its recent success, they may not need a major addition. After averaging just 72.6 rushing yards per game in the first three weeks, the team rebounded to surpass 125 rushing yards in each of their last three games before the Week 7 bye. In their most recent outing, they ran for a season-high 152 yards, with Swift exceeding 90 yards and averaging over five yards per carry for the second time this season.
The Bears’ improved ground game can be largely attributed to the offensive line’s better play following a change in the lineup. Additionally, the combination of Swift and Johnson has worked well, with Swift’s pass-catching prowess — 13 receptions on 13 targets for 147 yards in the last three games — adding versatility, and Johnson thriving as a goal-line and short-yardage back, scoring three touchdowns over the same span.
To solidify the Swift-Johnson duo for the future, the Bears need to maintain their recent productivity on the ground through the remainder of the 2024 season. If they do, they may not feel the need to make significant changes to their backfield heading into 2025.
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