The Chicago Bears got off to a slow start to the season in 2025, especially on the ground. They ran for 119 and 134 yards in their first two losses, though Caleb Williams led the team in rushing yards in the season opener, and no player reached 70 rushing yards in the second game.
Ultimately, the new-look offensive line meshed, Ben Johnson's offense clicked, and rookie seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai became a much-needed complement to D'Andre Swift. He went from a long shot to make the roster to a focal point in the offense.
That's why, now that he's already gotten a hold of the offense, and given Swift's contract situation, it only makes sense that Monangai slowly but steadily gets a grasp of the lead lead-backback role in the Windy City next season.
The Bears must roll with Kyle Monangai as the lead back
Monangai hit a bit of a rookie wall late in the campaign. Even so, and despite being a non-factor earlier in the season, he still finished the year with 783 rushing yards. That was the fifth-most among first-year ball-carriers.
Swift survived trade rumors all through the season and in the early stages of the offseason, but his situation is far from settled. The 27-year-old is entering the final year of his contract, and given how teams are usually reluctant to pay aging backs, the Bears will most likely groom Monangai to get a hold of the bell-cow role.
If Monangai proves to be worthy of a bigger workload, it wouldn't be shocking to see teams get the Bears on the phone to inquire about Swift''s availability, and if they're not so sure about bringing him back, perhaps a deal can be done.
The Bears still have some positions to address, and they could certainly benefit from adding more draft capital to their war chest. That said, they're not likely to get that much for a running back on an expiring deal.
Of course, Ben Johnson used two backs in Detroit as well, so this doesn't necessarily mean that the Bears will just move on from Swift to give Monangai all the carries. They're complementary and have different skill sets. However, at the very least, we should see a shift in the tides.
The Bears have shown a great eye for scouting on offense in the brief Ryan Poles era. And if things go their way, they will turn the 22nd running back off the board in 2025 into one of the best-value deals and biggest steals in recent years.
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