The Chicago Bears didn’t go into the 2025 NFL Draft planning to wait until their final pick to grab a running back-but that’s exactly how things played out. And sometimes, fortune favors patience. Enter Kyle Monangai, the seventh-rounder out of Rutgers who didn’t just make the roster-he made an impact.
From the moment he arrived in Chicago, Monangai turned heads. Head coach Ben Johnson didn’t waste time singing his praises, calling the rookie a player he could trust as early as mandatory minicamp. That’s not lip service-especially not from a first-year head coach trying to establish a culture.
Like most rookies, Monangai had to wait his turn. But once he got it, he didn’t look back.
His breakout came in Week 7 against the Saints, when he logged double-digit carries for the first time. Over the final 12 games of the regular season, he racked up over 700 rushing yards and averaged 5.1 yards per touch-numbers that speak to both consistency and explosiveness.
In a backfield split with D’Andre Swift, Monangai brought the thunder to Swift’s lightning. He was the bruiser, the tone-setter, the guy who earned his share of “Angry Runs” nods. Swift brought the versatility, finishing with 34 catches to Monangai’s 18-but Monangai actually edged him in yards per reception (9.1 to 8.8), showing there’s more to his game than just downhill power.
And that’s the key takeaway: Kyle Monangai isn’t just a change-of-pace back or a short-yardage specialist. He’s showing signs of being a true every-down option.
The Bears entered the year thinking Swift might only be around for a season. That narrative has shifted.
Now, with both backs expected to return next season, the Bears are looking at a 1-2 punch that could evolve into a near-even workload split. And that’s not just good for Monangai-it’s good for Swift, who looked fresher and more efficient as the season wore on.
Even in the Bears’ playoff loss to the Rams-a tough overtime exit-Monangai found ways to stand out. He only managed 36 yards on 13 carries, but he forced four missed tackles (tied for second most among all players in the Divisional Round), picked up three first downs, and broke off a 15-yard gain that set up a red zone trip. His 30.8% stuff rate was higher than usual, but the effort and physicality were there.
Where he really flashed was as a receiver. Monangai caught all four of his targets for 28 yards, including a 16-yarder in the second quarter.
He earned a 77.2 Pro Football Focus receiving grade-third-best among all running backs in the Divisional Round. That’s not a fluke.
That’s a sign of a player rounding out his game.
Zooming out to the full season, Monangai’s rookie campaign stacks up impressively. He finished with 846 rushing yards on 190 carries, ranking third among rookies in both total rushing yards and PFF rushing grade (75.6).
He moved the chains 46 times on the ground-tied for second among rookies-and found the end zone five times. His first down-plus-touchdown rate (24.2%) ranked third in his class, and he posted the lowest stuff rate of any rookie back at 14.7%.
He also forced 30 missed tackles and recorded 16 runs of 10-plus yards-numbers that show he wasn’t just grinding out short gains. He was creating chunk plays.
Most of his production came in zone schemes, where he took 126 carries for 536 yards. That’s an important note, because it speaks to his vision and patience-two traits that translate well in today’s NFL.
As a receiver, he added 23 catches for 222 yards. Yes, he had four drops-some of them on would-be big plays-but he still forced eight missed tackles after the catch and picked up 10 first downs, with five of those receptions going for 15-plus yards.
That’s not what most expected from a back who wasn’t heavily used as a pass catcher in college. But Monangai’s shown he can be more than what his college tape suggested. He’s elusive, physical, and increasingly reliable.
Head coach Ben Johnson knows the value of having two capable backs. His first year in Chicago proved that.
But Monangai’s emergence gives the Bears more than just depth-it gives them options. And if his trajectory continues, don’t be surprised if the workload tilts more in his direction next season.
For a seventh-round pick, Kyle Monangai didn’t just beat the odds-he’s rewriting them.