Kyle Monangai enters the 2026 NFL season as the clear No. 2 running back for the Chicago Bears behind D’Andre Swift, who led the backfield in 2025 with 1,087 rushing yards. Monangai posted 783 yards and five touchdowns on 169 carries as a rookie seventh-round pick while adding receiving work, establishing himself as a reliable complementary option in Ben Johnson’s run-heavy scheme. A mid-August knee hyperextension sidelined him for most of training camp and the preseason, though he returned to full practice by early September and is listed on the Week 1 depth chart as healthy. The Bears made no additions at the position, signaling comfort with the Swift-Monangai tandem on a roster that ranked among the league’s top rushing attacks last year. Swift’s contract-year status and the team’s tendency toward a committee approach will shape Monangai’s carry share, with his season-long rushing total dependent on efficiency, goal-line work, and any injury-related opportunities.