Bears Fall in Overtime, and Kyle Monangai’s Future Just Got a Lot Murkier
The Chicago Bears saw their season come to a cold, bitter end on Sunday night in a classic Soldier Field showdown that had all the makings of a frozen-football epic. Snowflakes danced in the air, the turf was rock solid, and the game felt like it was ripped straight from an NFL Films highlight reel.
It was the kind of night where you expected the ground game to take center stage-and for one Bears back, it did. For another, not so much.
D’Andre Swift answered the call. He ran with purpose, finishing with 76 yards on 19 carries, and looked every bit the dynamic, slashing runner the Bears hoped he’d be when they brought him in.
But the spotlight also shined on Kyle Monangai-and not in a good way. After a week where head coach Ben Johnson publicly challenged the rookie back to step up, Monangai came up short.
Again.
A Rookie Season That Peaked Too Soon?
Let’s be clear: for a seventh-round pick, Monangai’s rookie campaign was nothing to scoff at. The Rutgers product put up 783 yards and five touchdowns over 17 games, averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
That’s solid production, especially for a guy who started the year buried on the depth chart. He carved out a role as the thunder to Swift’s lightning, offering a more physical, between-the-tackles presence that gave Chicago’s run game some real teeth.
But the last few weeks told a different story.
Monangai’s production began to taper off just when the Bears needed him most. He managed only 14 yards on six carries in the regular-season finale against the Lions.
Then, in the Wild Card win over the Packers, he logged just 27 yards on eight carries. Johnson noticed-and he said as much, calling out the backfield’s recent dip in performance heading into the Divisional Round against the Rams.
Monangai had a chance to respond. Early on, it looked like he might.
He broke off a 15-yard run on his third carry of the night, showing that burst and power that made him a fan favorite during the regular season. But that flash turned out to be fleeting.
Over his next 12 carries, he gained just 21 yards. The Bears’ offense sputtered, and Johnson made the call to ride Swift instead-especially on a crucial red zone sequence late in the fourth quarter.
With the game tied and the Bears inside the Rams’ five-yard line with under five minutes to play, Swift got the call on three straight runs. The Rams stuffed all three.
Some might question why Monangai didn’t get a look in that sequence, but the truth is, he hadn’t earned it on the night. He’d had his chances-and hadn’t done much with them.
Late Heroics, But No Happy Ending
The Bears still had a shot. On 4th-and-4 with just 18 seconds left in regulation, Caleb Williams pulled off some rookie magic, hitting Cole Kmet in the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown to tie it up. It was a gutsy throw in a pressure-packed moment, and it gave Chicago new life heading into overtime.
But it didn’t last.
On the opening drive of OT, Williams was picked off. The Rams capitalized, driving into field goal range and setting up Harrison Mevis for the 42-yard game-winner. Just like that, the Bears’ season-and Monangai’s up-and-down rookie year-was over.
What’s Next for Monangai?
Now comes the big question: where does Monangai stand heading into the offseason?
It’s a tough spot. On one hand, his overall production as a rookie was impressive for a seventh-round pick.
On the other, the postseason is where reputations are made-and his stock took a hit when the lights got brightest. The Bears could look to bring in competition this offseason.
Whether that’s through the draft or free agency, there will be options on the table.
Monangai’s rookie season showed promise, but in the NFL, especially for late-round players, jobs aren’t guaranteed. He’ll need to prove himself all over again in camp if he wants to keep his spot in the Bears’ backfield rotation. Because when the games mattered most, the Bears looked elsewhere-and that says a lot.