The Chicago Bears got a tremendous effort from rookie seventh-round draft pick and running back Kyle Monangai in Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints, who did not expect to play as much as he did.
In light of Ben Johnson’s background with the Detroit Lions, comparisons between the Bears’ roster and the one he left have naturally followed. That includes the “Sonic & Knuckles” backfield tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and former Bears star David Montgomery.
For the Bears, all that matters is that they may have finally figured out their run game.
Bears RB Kyle Monangai Delivers Honest Take Before Facing Ravens
Kyle Monangai Gets Honest About Breakout Game
Monangai rushed for 81 yards and 1 touchdown on 13 carries in the Bears’ 26-14 win over the Saints, tacking on two receptions for 13 yards. The carries and yards set a new career-high for Monangai, who the Bears selected with the No. 233 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft.
He also played a career-high 31 snaps.
He said he was not expecting to receive such a significant workload and noted that he just prepares for when his number is called.
“Nah, I didn’t at all,” Monangai told Clocker Sports on Friday. “I just go into each game, expecting whatever. Just being prepared in any capacity. So, it was nice to get the increased workload. And whether that continues this game or it goes down this game, that’s not up to me or in my control. So, I just prepare and be ready for anything.”
Notably, Monangai does believe his efforts on the practice field set the stage for his big game.
“Just continued repetitions. Practice is obviously the best way to build that confidence and know that you can do your job at a high level. So just repetition since rookie mini camp and that training camp. Obviously, we have, I feel like, a harder than most training camp, and that’s just the way we operate here. So, I think that got me ready for that.
Bears RBs ‘Trying to Build’ Identity
As for the comparisons to Gibbs and Montgomery, Monanagi gets it, but says he and starter D’Andre Swift are not concerned with comparisons.
“Nah, we don’t compare ourselves to anybody. We have our own identity here, and we’re trying to build something special here that has us at the front of it. Not anybody else or be compared to anybody else. People have done it, and I get the comparisons. But we’re our own different people. And they’re a great duo. But, we’re, like, I said, we’re just – we’re our own type of running backs, our own type of players, and we’re trying to build our own identity as us. Not as anybody else.”
To that end, Monangai laughed as he said he and Swift have not come up with a nickname.
“Nah, we ain’t come up with no nickname yet,” Monangai told Clocker Sports. “We’re still building this thing. So, we ain’t even get to that point yet.”
As for what is next for him, Monangai said, “Just continuing the path that I’ve been on. I’m trying to get better each week. Production-wise, execution-wise. And yeah, just keep growing, man. I know it’s a long season wrong. We’re only in what, Week 7? So, I’m just trying to keep building and keep the trend going in the right direction.”
Up next for Swift and Monangai are the Baltimore Ravens and their 26th-ranked run defense.