Kyle Monangai Poised for Bigger Role in Bears’ Backfield After Eric Bieniemy’s Departure
The Chicago Bears are heading into 2026 with a bit of a shakeup on the coaching staff. Running backs coach Eric Bieniemy is heading back to Kansas City, this time reclaiming the offensive coordinator role with the Chiefs. It’s a move that makes sense for Kansas City, but for Chicago, it leaves a noticeable void-especially after a season where the Bears’ ground game was one of the most dominant in the league.
Bieniemy’s impact in Chicago went well beyond the stat sheet. He played a key role in getting the best out of veteran D’Andre Swift and was instrumental in the emergence of rookie Kyle Monangai.
Swift turned in one of the strongest seasons of his career, but it was Monangai who turned heads late in the year, flashing the kind of physical, north-south running style that Chicago fans love. Losing Bieniemy stings-but for Monangai, it could be the start of something bigger.
To understand why, it helps to look back at Bieniemy’s previous stint with the Chiefs, specifically during the 2022 season. That year, a seventh-round rookie named Isiah Pacheco burst onto the scene.
Like Monangai, Pacheco wasn’t expected to be a featured piece right away, but he made the most of his touches. Still, Bieniemy kept his workload relatively modest at 183 touches.
The following year, after Bieniemy’s departure, Pacheco’s role expanded significantly-he posted a career-high 249 touches. Injuries and performance dips limited him in the years that followed, but the takeaway is clear: Bieniemy's departure opened the door for a young back to take on a bigger role.
That’s the lens through which we can view Monangai’s 2026 outlook. The rookie finished last season with 187 touches-solid volume for a first-year player, especially considering a slow start and the presence of Swift in the backfield. But with Bieniemy no longer in the picture and Monangai earning the trust of both the coaching staff and the fan base, the runway is there for a major uptick in usage.
Make no mistake-this doesn’t diminish what Bieniemy brought to the table. His coaching helped shape a backfield that became a cornerstone of Chicago’s offense.
But his exit may be the catalyst that accelerates Monangai’s rise. The Bears have a punishing runner on their hands, and if the early signs are any indication, he’s just getting started.
Of course, D’Andre Swift is still in the mix and still under contract. He’s coming off a strong season and isn’t likely to fade quietly into the background.
Barring a surprise trade, Monangai will have to earn every carry. But if he builds on what he showed in 2025, it’s not hard to envision a scenario where he forces his way into a lead role-or at the very least, a true timeshare that leans in his direction.
As for Bieniemy, his return to Kansas City is a homecoming that makes sense on a lot of levels. After spending the last few years bouncing around the league, he’s back in a familiar system with a chance to call plays for one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses. It’s a win for the Chiefs-and a challenge for the Bears, who lose a key piece of Ben Johnson’s staff.
But this is part of the process when a team starts to climb the NFC ranks. Coaches get poached, roles shift, and new opportunities emerge. For Kyle Monangai, that opportunity might be coming faster than anyone expected.