Kyle Monangai was the Chicago Bears’ final pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Historically, seventh-round picks have been viewed as long shots to make their club’s roster.
Monangai enters a unique situation with a rookie head coach on a team coming off a lackluster season on the ground. Still, Monangai figures to at least begin OTAs and training camp working behind veteran starter D’Andre Swift and current RB2 Roschon Johnson on the depth chart.
Encouragingly, Monangai is eager to learn from both players.
Kyle Monangai ‘Excited’ to Learn From Fellow Bears RBs
Bears’ RB Room Welcomed Kyle Monangai
“Everybody in the room, in some capacity, reached out, welcomed me to the team, welcomed me to the room,” Monangai told Clocker Sports on Sunday. “I’m excited to get to work with these guys in this coming week. And great people to learn from. They’ve been here, they’ve done it, so I’m excited.”
Bears running backs coach, Eric Bieniemy, has already expressed that the group will welcome any newcomer while also expecting them to maintain the same standard level as everyone else in the room.
“Wherever we decide to go [in the draft], that’s up to the guys up top. It’s up to the general manager. It’s up to the head coach,” Bieniemy told Clocker Sports during his introduction in April. “If we happen to bring in a guy, we’re going to put our arms around him and we’re going to coach him up. But he’s gonna have to understand the same things that I’ve told these guys that we’re going to live by.
“There is a standard in which I expect us to perform at, and there is a way in which we will handle and conduct ourselves on a day-to-day basis.”
Monangai has already gotten a taste of the Bears RB coach’s style, calling Bieniemy a “legend.”
Bears RB Room on Notice
Swift rushed for 959 yards and 6 touchdowns (both the second highest marks of his career) on 253 carries (a new high) in 2024, his first season with the Bears as part of a three-year, $24 million contract.
The former Philadelphia Eagle has familiarity with Bears head coach Ben Johnson from their shared time with the Detroit Lions.
Those lines traded Swift to Philly in 2022.
Johnson has expressed positive sentiments about his new presumed starter. The coach also boasts a history of utilizing multiple backs in his offense. That includes former Bears starter David Montgomery, who credited Johnson with helping rekindle his passion and love for football.
As for Johnson (the player), his short-yardage role may remain in place. Monangai is powerfully built, but still on the shorter side, and Johnson was successful in that role last season.
How Johnson (the head coach) divvies up the carries between Swift, Johnson, and Monangai will be critical.