Free agency is always interesting in the NFL. And when the time came to add players last offseason, the Chicago Bears took full advantage, signing running back D’Andre Swift to a three-year, $24 million deal.
However, before the Swift deal was finalized, the Bears were in talks with Saquon Barkley, one of the best running backs in the NFL. Barkley will play in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 9, 2025.
While we can say “all’s well that ends all” for Barkley, an ex-Bears star couldn’t help but discuss how things would be different if Barkley ended up with Caleb Williams’ team.
Matt Forte Argues Saquon Barkley’s Addition to the Chicago Bears Would’ve Made a Difference
Matt Forte, an ex-Bears Pro Bowler, recently appeared on “Up and Adams” and talked about how Barkley’s addition would’ve made a difference to Chicago after the Eagles running back admitted that he was “pretty damn close” to signing with the team.
Reacting to the then-possible Barkley joining the Bears, Forte bluntly said that it wouldn’t have made much difference to the team.
“Not much, because I am very critical of the Bears, and I’ve earned that right. And as a running back, I think he coming to the Bears would have made it a very dynamic player, right? He can do things that a lot of guys can’t do. He actually did something, hurdling someone backward, that you’ve never seen in NFL history, and his explosiveness, like, he can score a touchdown from anywhere.”
How DIFFERENT would the Bears season have been IF they landed Saquon last offseason?? @MattForte22: "Not much…" 😳@heykayadams @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/ECqRD0NGCo
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 4, 2025
Explaining why Barkley wouldn’t have made a difference, he said that the Eagles running back wouldn’t have the same holes to run through if he was with the Bears.
He further explained that he played in the NFL for over a decade, and it doesn’t matter if you have Barkley at running back or Tom Brady at quarterback — if you don’t have guys up front who are clearing the way, it’s going to be very difficult to have success as an offense.