The Chicago Bears have entered a new era of recalibration and aggression, retooling their offense and fortifying their backfield with a blend of youthful energy and untapped grit. One of the most intriguing stories to emerge from training camp is that of rookie Kyle Monangai, the undrafted running back from Rutgers who is quietly, yet forcefully, making a name for himself among a crowded room of hopefuls. With the media’s attention largely focused on marquee names and established veterans, Monangai’s path isn’t drenched in glamour—but it’s arguably more compelling than most. He is not simply another camp body. He’s a real contender, one that the coaching staff is watching with increasingly attentive eyes. With each practice rep, he inches closer to a roster spot, and perhaps, a legitimate role in the offensive rotation.
Monangai doesn’t have the pedigree of a first-round pick or the explosive college highlights that make social media erupt. What he does have, however, is something far more durable and essential in the NFL: the ability to do the dirty work. He’s built low to the ground, with a center of gravity that gives defenders headaches and legs that churn through arm tackles like a freight train. At Rutgers, Monangai was known for his ability to pick up tough yards between the tackles and protect his quarterback like a fourth offensive lineman. In a league where running backs are often asked to chip, block, and adapt to a fast, punishing defensive line, Monangai’s skill set could be the Bears’ hidden weapon.
What separates Monangai from many of his rookie peers is how fundamentally sound his game already is. Coaches have lauded his attention to detail, particularly when it comes to pass protection—an area where most young backs struggle. During drills, Monangai consistently recognizes blitz packages and steps up into contact without hesitation. His punch is firm, his positioning clean, and he finishes blocks. That’s the kind of trait that may not lead to flashy box scores, but it’s precisely what keeps drives alive. It’s also the kind of reliability that makes offensive coordinators trust you. If he can continue to demonstrate this level of pass-blocking competence against live bullets in preseason games, his stock will rise sharply.
The Bears’ running back room is not without talent. With veterans and returning contributors like Khalil Herbert, Roschon Johnson, and D’Andre Swift, it’s a deep rotation with varied skill sets. But what Monangai brings is more aligned with the physical, north-south running style that new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron seems eager to incorporate. Swift dazzles in space and Herbert has home-run ability, but Monangai brings a lunch-pail mentality that can be leaned on in short-yardage and goal-line scenarios. He’s also built for inclement weather and late-season bruiser football—an undeniable asset when you’re playing in the brutal cold of Soldier Field in December.
The comparisons to other undrafted success stories are inevitable, but Monangai’s trajectory feels distinct. His college resume includes leading the Big Ten in rushing yards during the 2023 season, totaling over 1,200 yards on the ground despite Rutgers’ offensive limitations. That production wasn’t born out of finesse. It came through sheer willpower, often with multiple defenders hanging off of him. At a time when running backs are being devalued by front offices across the league, Monangai represents a throwback kind of toughness that could endear him to a team looking to reestablish a physical identity.
It also helps that Monangai has a chip on his shoulder the size of Lake Michigan. Undrafted players carry that extra burden, knowing every snap could be their last opportunity to make an impression. Monangai carries himself with the intensity of someone who’s acutely aware of this reality. Every stretch, every rep, every drill—he attacks them with a desperation that coaches can’t teach. When other players are saving themselves for the preseason games, Monangai is already treating practice like the Super Bowl. That approach is contagious, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed in the locker room. Veterans have praised his work ethic, and offensive linemen have taken to blocking for him with a little extra zeal. That type of internal support often factors into coaching decisions when it’s time to cut the roster down.
Another significant factor working in Monangai’s favor is his versatility. While he doesn’t have blazing 4.3 speed, he possesses enough burst to get through the second level if the blocking is right. He’s also shown solid hands out of the backfield, catching screen passes and wheel routes in stride. That dual-threat capability makes it harder for defenses to key in on him and gives Waldron more tools to work with. Monangai isn’t just a one-dimensional pounder—he’s becoming a complete back. The more he adds to his toolkit, the harder it becomes for the Bears to ignore him.
During joint practices and team scrimmages, Monangai has begun to assert himself in subtle but important ways. He’s routinely moving the chains on third-and-short. He’s identifying and neutralizing blitzes. He’s staying in the ear of position coaches, asking for feedback and corrections. This constant thirst for improvement is what makes developmental coaches invest in a player. While some guys coast on natural talent, Monangai is steadily stacking good days on top of one another. That’s how rosters are made. That’s how playoff teams are built—by finding unheralded players who buy in early and never let go of the opportunity.
As training camp intensifies and the preseason schedule looms, Monangai will get his shot in front of live defenses. These upcoming games will be crucial for him. Not just for putting up numbers, but for showcasing the traits that scouts quietly covet: vision, patience, toughness, and ball security. Special teams reps will also likely play a role in determining his fate. If he can contribute on kick coverage or as a reliable option in the return game, he drastically increases his utility to the roster. In a league defined by attrition, the more you can do, the more likely you are to stick.
It’s important to remember that the Bears have had their fair share of late bloomers and undrafted heroes. Players like Jordan Howard, who was a mid-round pick but didn’t arrive with much fanfare, rose to prominence because they offered production and consistency. Monangai fits that mold. He may never be the most athletic back on the field, but he might end up being the one coaches trust the most in crunch time. That trust is built in meetings, in walkthroughs, in those unglamorous moments that no one sees on TV. And it’s being built now.
Fans shouldn’t underestimate the impact a player like Monangai can have on team culture. Young players who grind their way onto the roster set the tone for what’s expected. They keep veterans honest and force everyone else to stay locked in. When an undrafted rookie starts taking reps from someone with a more decorated resume, it sends a message throughout the locker room: every spot is earned, not given. That kind of meritocracy is essential for a team still trying to turn the corner.
There’s still a long road ahead. The NFL is ruthless, and the final roster is never easy to crack. But Kyle Monangai isn’t looking for a shortcut. He’s leaning into the difficulty, embracing the challenge, and doing all the little things that coaches fall in love with. He doesn’t need 20 carries a game or a marketing campaign behind him. He just needs a chance. And from everything we’ve seen so far, it looks like the Bears are going to give him one.
What happens next will depend on how Monangai performs when the lights are on and the pads are popping. But if his Rutgers career, training camp grind, and all-around mental toughness are any indication, don’t bet against him. Every year, the NFL writes a new chapter filled with unexpected contributors who rise from anonymity to relevance. This year, that story might be written in navy and orange—and Kyle Monangai could very well be holding the pen.
