The Chicago Bears finished the 2025 season as one of the best running teams, but could head coach Ben Johnson be in the market for another running back in the upcoming draft?
With the 2026 NFL Draft approaching, the Chicago Bears are continuing to dive into more of these draft prospects with the hope of adding more dynamic players.
One of those players is Kentucky running back Seth McGowan, who was recently at Halas Hall for a 30 visit visit, according to AtoZ Sports.
Running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai helped lead the Bears to become the No. 3 rushing team in the NFL last season, so there may not be an immediate need for another player at the position. However, Swift is entering the final year of his contract, and core special teams player Travis Homer left in free agency to join the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Bears still have Roschon Johnson, Brittain Brown and Deion Hankins on the roster, but there is another spot available to add a running back. Here is what McGowan brings as a ball carrier.
At 6-foot, 223-pounds, McGowan has some size to his profile, but he doesn't lack power. He ran a 4.49 40-yard dash and registered a 42.5-inch vertical jump, which was tied for the sixth-highest among all participants at the combine. McGowan also posted a 10' 11" broad jump, finishing first at his position.
That explosiveness translated in certain areas throughout the 2025 season. McGowan led the Wildcats with 165 carries for 725 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. However, he only had 13 explosive runs and 10 of them occurred in the first four games. He also added 19 receptions for 126 yards.
McGowan has made a few stops throughout his college career. Before he spent just a year at Kentucky, he transferred from New Mexico State for the 2024 season. The running back played in all 12 games, rushing for 823 yards and three touchdowns on 152 attempts. He also caught 23 passes for 277 yards and three scores.
He started playing college football at the University of Oklahoma in 2020. As a freshman, he had just 58 rushing attempts for 370 yards and three touchdowns.
In May of 2021, McGowan was sentenced to a year of probation for a drug-related crime that occurred in April of that year. Oklahoma dismissed him from the football team. McGowan returned to football in 2023, playing for Butler Community College. He played in six games and rushed for 125 yards and four touchdowns on 39 carries.
Often times pre-draft visits are for prospects that teams still have questions about. Given McGowan's history, it's not surprising the Bears had the running back at Halas Hall for a visit.
McGowan is an older prospect who has had some off-the-field issues, so the Bears need to first feel comfortable with his character before potentially adding him to the team.
The Bears already have two established running backs in the backfield, so McGowan would have to prove himself on special teams before taking any of those reps.
If general manager Ryan Poles determines he can become a good fit in the locker room, then head coach Ben Johnson will get another playmaker to eventually work into his dynamic offense.