Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai had a successful rookie season, but what's next for the offensive playmaker as he prepares for Year 2 with head coach Ben Johnson?
The Chicago Bears selected Kyle Monangai with the 233rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Despite being the 22nd running back drafted, he established himself as a focal point in head coach Ben Johnson's offense. The 5-foot-8, 207-pound back finished his rookie season with 169 carries, 783 yards and five rushing touchdowns.
Monangai produced in his first season in the NFL, but like most professional athletes, he's always looking for areas of improvement.
"Speaking with coaches and just doing self reflection, I think I did some good things last year but it’s nowhere where I want to be, for sure," Monangai said. "Not even just stat-wise, but as a whole. I watched the film for how well I did and how I executed, obviously. Did I do my job? Did I get a good gain on one play? Did I not? Did I miss an assignment? Did I not? But then you kind of sit back and also look at it holistically, like, what was I thinking on this play? What was I doing? Was I set right away? Was I taking too long? Was I thinking too much?
That aspect of it. Just building off the little things. It always comes back to that. The major things we know, we see. If I had a dropped pass, obviously I have to catch the ball there. If I miss a read, I’ve got to make that read. If I fall and nobody was there to tackle, I’ve got to pick my feet up. Those things are obvious but the little details, that’s what I go back and watch. Coaches, obviously, help me as well with their feedback but those are things I’ve got to focus on to show up because those little things add up to big things and that’s where the big gains and big improvements come from."
What will help Monangai answer more of the detailed questions this season is familiarity. Instead of learning Johnson's offense, the Bears' running back understands what to expect now, easing his mind and allowing him to play fast.
Monangai missed three days of practice last week because of a soft-tissue injury, but he is getting back into the swing of things to progress in the right direction. He's practiced in all three days this week, including Tuesday in full pads and even received some 11-on-11 reps.
The Bears will need Monangai to compliment D'Andre Swift in the backfield. The two helped the Bears finish as the No. 3 rushing team last season, and there will plenty more opportunities for the Bears' run game with Johnson calling the plays.
"It’s no secret he loves to run the ball, and like you said, explosive plays," Monangai said. "In that, there’s efficiency as well. There’s no he’s hunting them or every play is a big hitter. We know that’s not the nature of football and running the football well. We want to make big plays in the run game. That’s no secret. We’re going to rely on the guys up front, we’re going to follow their lead and when they’re there, we want to hit them. We don’t want to miss out on any opportunities. Just keep going forward and keep moving the sticks."
