Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai - Michael Hickey/GettyImages
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai made a big statement in the team’s Week 1 win against the Carolina Panthers. The former Rutgers running back took off for a 61-yard touchdown, adding anticipation for what’s to come for Monangai and the Bears offense.
It was a big day for scoring across the NFL, notably with the Bears’ 59-37 win. The former Rutgers running back stole the show with his touchdown, and Monangai’s performance is just a sneak peek of what’s to come.
Play of the Game for Kyle Monangai
While the Bears scored 59 points, Monangai’s 61-yard run is a contender for the top play of the game. It was not just an explosive run; the touchdown was a massive momentum boost for the Bears.
Although Chicago held the lead ahead of the play, they were up by just a touchdown with under a minute left in the third quarter. Monangai’s run pushed the team to a two-score lead, helping the Bears run away with the game.
“It was a big moment for us. It was a momentum swinger for us,” Bears quarterback Caleb Williams told reporters after the game. “That’s a crushing thing when you’re in that situation. You’re midfield, and you get a downhill run that goes for [61 yards].”
In the first game of the 2026 season, the former Rutgers running back had 10 carries for 100 yards and one touchdown. He finished second in rushing yards behind running back D’Andre Swift, who had a big game of his own. Swift had 18 carries for 124 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener.
Kyle Monangai Poised for Breakout Season
While Monangai played in every game his rookie season, he scored just five touchdowns, with his longest run for 39 yards. The former Scarlet Knight already has one touchdown this season, looking to surpass his 2025 stats.
Swift and Monangai are poised to be a top dominant duo in the league following the Bears’ Week 1 performance.
Monangai is a physical athlete, and his ability to push through defenders will help him succeed in the NFL. With Swift’s speed and Monangai’s physicality, the Bears offense can maintain energy in the run game, which in turn will help break up the passing game.
Having two talented running backs will help break up an already strong passing game, making Chicago’s offense a challenge for opposing defenses to stop.
Although Week 1 overreactions exist, Monangai’s performance shows he has immense potential and can take a big step in 2026.
Ben Johnson Knows How to Coach Running Back Duos
Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson is no stranger to running an offense with a strong running back duo. Before joining the Bears, Johnson spent three seasons as the Detroit Lions offensive coordinator. With the Lions, Johnson coached one of the NFL’s top offenses, which included a dominant ground game.
In 2024, Johnson’s final season with the Lions before joining the Bears, Detroit’s offense ran the ball at a high level between running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. While Gibbs remained the team’s No. 1 running back, Montgomery had 185 carries for 775 yards and 12 touchdowns.
With how well Gibbs and Montgomery performed under Johnson, Monangai could have a similar fate with the Bears this season.
Former Scarlet Knight Pushing Toward Potential
Rutgers fans understand Monangai’s potential of becoming a playmaker for the Bears. He spent five seasons with Rutgers as a bright spot of the offense.
In his five seasons with Rutgers, Monangai had back-to-back seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards. In 2024, Monangai’s final season with Rutgers, he showed off his skill set one final time. He finished the season with 256 carries for 1,279 yards and 13 touchdowns. After earning the second-most rushing yards in the Big Ten, Monangai declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Although Monangai fell to the seventh round, he can be a late-round gem for the Bears in his second season.
Monangai and the Bears will next face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Sept. 20, as Chicago looks to move to a 2-0 record and stay on top of the NFC North.
