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Bears head coach Ben Johnson.

The Chicago Bears had quite a few of their 2025 draft picks shine for them in their debut NFL seasons, some of whom ascended to starting roles as rookies.

Colston Loveland, their No. 10 overall pick in 2025, surpassed veteran tight end Cole Kmet on the depth chart and finished his rookie season as the Bears’ leading receiver. Second-round offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo also seized the starting left tackle job, while wide receiver Luther Burden III — another second-rounder — earned late-season starts.

Perhaps their biggest surprise, though, came from seventh-round rookie running back Kyle Monangai, who entered the season as their No. 2 option behind D’Andre Swift and delivered several breakout performances that teased his potential as a future starter.

Monangai totaled 783 yards and five touchdowns on 169 carries (4.6 yards per carry), finishing fifth in yardage and tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns among 2025 rookies. He also rushed for more than 100 yards in two games, including his first career start in Week 9 when he barreled through the Cincinnati Bengals for 176 yards on 26 carries.

Even with a few stellar performances on record for Monangai, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski argued that Monangai is still the team’s “best-kept secret” heading into the start of 2026 organized team activities (OTAs) — largely because of his RB1 potential.

“[Monangai’s] a natural runner, particularly between the tackles. The Rutgers product has some wiggle and brings a lot of physicality,” Sobleski wrote March 18. “Swift is entering a contract year and may not be with Chicago next season. It wouldn’t be the first time Ben Johnson built an offense around Swift only to go in another direction. Buy stock in Monangai early, because he could very well be the Bears’ RB1 in 2027.”

Will Kyle Monangai Break Out as Clear RB1 in 2026?

Monangai is still flying under the radar on a league-wide level, in part because he was not the only rookie running back from the 2025 draft class to produce for his team.

Ashton Jeanty and TreVeyon Henderson each rushed for more than 900 yards in their first NFL seasons, with Henderson leading all rookie running backs in yards per carry (5.1) and rushing touchdowns (nine). Meanwhile, Jacory Crosky-Merritt and Quinshon Judkins were each members of the 800-rushing-yards club for their respective teams.

There were also a few rookie running backs who rushed off to hot starts before injuries knocked them off course of breakouts, such as Omarion Hampton and Cam Skattebo.

Even still, Monangai has a real chance to set himself apart in the 2025 class during his second season with the Bears, given he should have a meaningful role from the get-go.

Swift is still the No. 1 back in Chicago, but he is entering the final year of his contract in 2026 and will turn 28 before the 2027 season. The Bears had also gradually narrowed the split between Swift’s and Monangai’s carries toward the end of last season, hinting that they might want a more even split between them throughout the 2026 campaign.

If that’s the case, then Monangai could eclipse 1,000 yards with a healthy Year 2.

Bears Didn’t Invest in More Running Backs for 2026

While the Bears have talked glowingly about Monangai’s rookie production, the loudest compliment they have paid him came with their offseason moves — or, lack thereof.

Despite buzz about their interest in at least one veteran running back, the Bears did not make any substantial moves to add more running backs to their roster in the offseason. They retained Brittain Brown on a reserve/future contract as a practice-squad holdover and added UDFA Coleman Bennett earlier this month, but neither threatens Monangai.

The only way to read such limited activity at the position is that the Bears are happy to proceed into 2026 with last season’s primary duo, and why shouldn’t they be happy? Swift and Monangai helped pace the NFL’s third-best rushing offense in 2025 during head coach Ben Johnson’s inaugural campaign in Chicago. Running it back seems wise, and that should only benefit Monangai as he seeks to further climb the NFL ladder.