The Chicago Bears have not had a running back gain 1,000 yards since David Montgomery put up 1,070 in 2020. They entered the 2025 NFL Draft hoping to find a playmaker who will help revolutionize their run game.
Ultimately, the Bears didn’t add a running back until the seventh-round, when they drafted Kyle Monangai out of Rutgers. As a seventh-rounder, he’ll have an uphill battle making the 53-man roster, let alone making a difference during the season. However, Chicago remains high on Monangai and are hoping they found a diamond in the rough.
Coaches who have faced off against the running back and personnel evaluators certainly think the Bears have. One evaluator even called Monangai a poor man’s Montgomery, via Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic.
“Good contact balance,” he said. “Tough to bring down. Lacks burst and top-end speed.”
As an opposing offensive assistant coach, all you can is watch Monangai go to work. However, one that faced off against the running back clearly sees why the Bears targeted him.
“Solid all around,” said the opposing offensive assistant coach. “Runs hard, protects, never fumbled, can catch. Wouldn’t be surprised if he plays a lot there.”
“It’s a good pick that late for them,” the coach said.
Chicago Bears take chance on Kyle Monangai
Monangai spent five years at Rutgers, appearing in 52 games. He ran for 3,222 yards total, adding 27 touchdowns. In 2023, he led the Big Ten with 1,262 rushing yards, putting himself on the map and earning Monangai an even larger role entering his senior season.
During that 2024 campaign, the running back led the Big Ten with 256 carries, turning them into 1,279 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns. Monangai was named First-team All Big Ten.
At 5-foot-8, the running back is a bit undersized for the NFL level. While his 4.6 speed doesn’t jump off the charts, he has enough quickness to get past defenders. Furthermore, Monangai plays bigger than he is and has the physicality to break tackles. However, there’s a reason the running back fell to the seventh-round. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com certainly sees the upside to Monangai’s game. But he’ll need to develop in some crucial areas to truly stick in the NFL.
“Short but stout two-time team captain who is bundled tightly into a compact, muscular frame,” Zierlein wrote. “Monangai is quicker than fast and lacks breakaway speed but can change the track of the run at a moment’s notice with unpredictable cuts at sharp angles.”
“His vision is average and his lack of run-lane discipline will irk offensive line coaches, but he creates yardage out of nowhere and has exceptional contact balance to repel would-be tacklers,” he continued. “He lacks ideal third-down value, so teams will need to be comfortable with tabbing Monangai as an early-down backup who can handle a heavier carry load if needed.”
With how the Bears’ current running back room is constructed, Monangai will have an opportunity to make an impact. While they could add another runner in free agency, training camp will be Monangai’s best opportunity to prove himself. If he turns out to be a strong fit in Johnson’s offense, and he is able to begin the necessary corrections, then perhaps Monangai has a larger role than most seventh-rounders as a rookie.
When Montgomery was a rookie, he ran for 889 yards and six touchdowns. That seems incredibly unlikely for Monangai as long as D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson and potentially another free agent are around. However, it’s clear the Bears are in search of running back help. Now it’s up to Monangai to prove he can provide it.
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