Twenty-one running backs were selected in the 2025 NFL draft ahead of Kyle Monangai. Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles selected Monangai in the seventh round (233rd overall) with the team’s final pick.
Monangai comes to Chicago following back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons with Rutgers. He joins a backfield that returns starter D’Andre Swift and last year’s No. 2 option, Roschon Johnson.
Here’s what Bears fans need to know about Monangai before rookies report for training camp Saturday.
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Rookie running back Kyle Monangai carries the football during Chicago Bears rookie camp at Halas Hall on May 9 in Lake Forest, Ill. Stacey Wescott, Chicago Tribune/TNS
How did he get here?
There was a ton of chatter surrounding the Bears and the running back position ahead of the draft. Would Boise State star Ashton Jeanty fall to the Bears at No. 10? Would Poles consider trading up? What about potential second-round options — Omarion Hampton, TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins?
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In the end, the Bears landed none of those players. The asking price to move up for Jeanty proved too steep, and the Las Vegas Raiders picked him at No. 6. Hampton went late in the first round, and Henderson and Judkins were selected early in the second ahead of the Bears’ picks.
So the Bears pivoted. They waited until the seventh round to take a back in Monangai.
Where did he come from?
Monangai grew up in New Jersey and went to Don Bosco Prep, a powerhouse football program. He was rated as a three-star recruit coming out of high school. Rutgers was one of only a handful of FBS scholarship offers, and it was his only Big Ten offer.
Monangai’s story at Rutgers was one of patience. He barely saw the field his first two seasons while playing behind future Kansas City Chiefs seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco. In 2022, Monangai was the team’s leading rusher with 445 yards, but the Scarlet Knights had one of the Big Ten’s worst offenses.
Monangai’s patience was rewarded during his final two seasons. In 2023, he led the Big Ten in rushing with 1,262 yards — ahead of even Michigan All-American Blake Corum.
“You know, 2023 was his breakout year,” Rutgers running backs coach Damiere Shaw said. “And it’s like, ‘OK, Kyle, you’re coming back, you’ve got to do it again. This one’s harder when you’re not catching anybody by surprise.’ What’d he do? He did it again.”
NFL Combine Football
Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on March 1 in Indianapolis. The Bears picked Monangai in the seventh round (233ed overall) of the draft. Michael Conroy, Associated Press
In 2024, he finished second in the Big Ten with 1,279 rushing yards (behind Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson) while finding the end zone 13 times.
Why did the Bears draft him?
The predraft chatter surrounding the Bears and running backs was warranted. Despite returning Swift as the lead back, they simply didn’t have enough depth at a position that frequently deals with injuries.
In drafting Monangai, the Bears added a productive college player to a group that included Swift, Johnson, Travis Homer and Ian Wheeler. In his second season in 2024, Johnson averaged just 2.7 yards per carry. Homer is primarily a special teams player, while Wheeler missed his rookie season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee in the preseason finale. The Bears also added undrafted rookie Deion Hankins after the draft.
There’s a real path to playing time if Monangai can impress during camp. He already caught coach Ben Johnson’s eye during minicamp in June. Asked to highlight players who stood out, Johnson mentioned four — including Monangai.
“Kyle Monangai has really stepped up,” Ben Johnson said. “I appreciate the attention to detail and the pride he takes and how quickly he’s picking things up.”
What his coaches said
Shaw, the Rutgers running backs coach, has a favorite Monangai moment from last season. It wasn’t a touchdown run or a broken tackle. Late in the year against Michigan State, the Spartans had shown an exotic blitz just once all season. When they showed a similar look against Rutgers, it was Monangai — not the quarterback or center — who recognized it and called it out to teammates.
“When he saw the look, he observed for a second and he went up and changed the protection,” Shaw said. “(He) told the quarterback, ‘Hey, no we’re going to get into this protection.’ Told the O-line, ‘Hey, we’re going to slide to this guy,’ and he picked up exactly the guy who was going to be free.”
If not for Monangai, Shaw thinks Michigan State’s pressure likely would have blown up the play.
“You don’t see running backs change protections like that,” Shaw said.
Shaw raved about Monangai’s preparation — not only studying the opponent but also taking care of his body. That’s especially important for a back who plays a physical style. Shaw believes Monangai’s physicality will translate immediately to the NFL. Beyond that, he’s a precise and decisive runner.
“There was no wasted movement with Kyle,” Shaw said. “You watch his film: One step here, boom, he’s vertical. One step there, boom, he’s vertical. He was decisive, he knew exactly what he was looking for.”
What he said
Monangai is OK with flying under the radar. He’s not the type who keeps a list of the players drafted before him.
In fact, it’s the opposite: He said he doesn’t care — he’s so used to being overlooked that it doesn’t faze him.
“I was never talked about in the top guys, usually, from Pop Warner to middle school, high school, college to now, even,” Monangai said. “It’s not a new space, not a new environment for me, it’s a role that I embrace and take on. It’s what, honestly, has made me the player that I am. It’s given me the fuel, the motivation, to be the running back I am.”
Monangai is following in Pacheco’s footsteps. Pacheco quickly emerged as the starting running back and helped the Chiefs win two Super Bowls.
What he needs to prove during training camp
Running back is a position in which it’s possible to contribute right away no matter where you were drafted. Pacheco is a prime example.
Swift is likely to remain the Bears’ lead back, but if Monangai’s physical and decisive style carry over to the NFL level, he could earn playing time. He needs to keep doing what he did at Rutgers — hitting holes quickly and being a productive pass blocker.
If he’s going to earn snaps, it likely will be because he’s outperforming Johnson. What happens behind Swift should be an intriguing position battle to watch.
31 historical photos of the Chicago Bears
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Bill Wade played in 59 games for the Bears from 1961 to 1966. Ray Gora
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Ed Brown played in 98 games for the Bears from 1954 to 1961. Chicago Tribune historical photo
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Zeke Bratkowski played in 59 games for the Bears from 1954 to 1960. Chicago Tribune historical photo
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George Blanda, center, played in 115 games for the Bears as a kicker-quarterback from 1949 to 1958. Chicago Tribune historical photo
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Wille Thrower played in one game during the Bears' 1953 season. Chicago Tribune historical photo
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Steve Romanik, shown here in 1951, right, played in 24 games for Bears from 1950 to 1953. Ray Gora
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Johnny Lujack played in 45 games for Bears as a kicker-quarterback from 1948 to 1951. Chicago Tribune historical photo
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Nick Sacrinty, left, played in 11 games during the Bears' 1947 season. Chicago Tribune
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Henry Burris played in six games during the Bears' 2002 season. JOHN SMIERCIAK
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Jim Miller played in 32 games for the Bears from 1999 to 2002. JOSé M. OSORIO
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Shane Matthews played in 20 games for the Bears from 1996 to 2001. JAMES PRISCHING
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Mark Hartsell played in one game during the Bears' 2000 season. John Smierciak
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Cade McNown played in 25 games for the Bears from 1999 to 2000. NUCCIO DINUZZO
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Moses Moreno played in two games during the Bears' 1998 season. JAMES PRISCHING
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Steve Stenstrom played in 11 games for the Bears from 1996 to 1998. TODD PANAGOPOULOS
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Erik Kramer played in 49 games for the Bears from 1994 to 1998. JOHN SMIERCIAK
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Steve Walsh played in 13 games for the Bears from 1994 to 1995. Chicago Tribune
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Rick Mirer played in seven games during the Bears' 1997 season. NUCCIO DINUZZO
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Jim Harbaugh played in 89 games for the Bears from 1987 to 1993. Nancy Stone
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Peter Tom Willis played in 21 games for the Bears from 1990 to 1993. Jim Prisching
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Will Furrer played in two games during the Bears' 1992 season. James Prisching
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Mike Tomczak played in 77 games for the Bears from 1985 to 1990. Chicago Tribune
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Mike Hohensee played in two games during the Bears' 1987 season. BILL HOGAN
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Steve Fuller played in 38 games for the Bears from 1984 to 1986. ED WAGNER JR
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Rusty Lisch played in seven games during the Bears' 1984 season. Chicago Tribune
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Bob Avellini played in 73 games for the Bears from 1975 to 1984. Chicago Tribune
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Vince Evans played in 56 games for the Bears from 1977 to 1983. Phil Mascione
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Mike Phipps played in 31 games for the Bears from 1977 to 1981. Ed Wagner Jr
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Gary Huff played in 43 games for the Bears from 1973 to 1976. Ed Wagner Jr
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Joe Barnes played in three games during the Bears' 1974 season. Ray Gora
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Jack Concannon played in 51 games for the Bears from 1967 to 1971. Ed Wagner Jr
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