Bears Rookie RB Kyle Monangai Pushes Back on 7th-Round Label After Draft Slide

Yahoo

18-06-2025

Bears Rookie RB Kyle Monangai Pushes Back on 7th-Round Label After Draft Slide originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
With offseason camps officially in the books, the Bears are starting to get a clearer picture of which rookies could push for real roles this fall. One of those names has already created buzz, not just with his play—but with his story. After quietly climbing the depth chart, a rookie running back recently opened up about his surprise slide on draft day, and why he's not letting that define him.
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Kyle Monangai, a rugged running back out of Rutgers, is quickly becoming one of the most intriguing stories to emerge from Chicago's offseason program. He posted back-to-back 1,200-yard rushing seasons in the Big Ten, totaled 707 career touches—669 rushing attempts and 38 receptions—without a single fumble, and became the first Rutgers running back to earn All-America honors since Ray Rice in 2007.
Despite those accolades, he slid to the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Kyle MonangaiGetty Images
Recently, Monangai joined The Big Pro Football Show: Bears on CHSN to discuss his journey and his first impressions of being with the team.
'It's been surreal, just working, doing what I love to do. I'm taking everything in and getting closer with the guys.'
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When asked by David Haugh about constantly being labeled as '7th-round pick Kyle Monangai,' the rookie didn't shy away:
'I embrace it. People always want to put a label on me at every level of football. It's nothing that I'm not used to. I'll wear it with pride, and we'll see at the end what I'm known for.'
Clay Harbor chimed in with a reminder of Monangai's credentials—two straight 1,200-yard seasons in the Big Ten without ever fumbling. He then asked if Monangai was shocked to last until Round 7.
'I would be lying if I said that's where I was going to go. I definitely expected higher of myself. That's where the chips landed, and I couldn't be more excited in the situation I'm in. It's not necessarily what number you go, it's where you go.'
Known for his hard-nosed, downhill style in college, Monangai's draft stock took a hit due to below-average testing numbers in speed and explosiveness. But early returns in Chicago tell a different story. He's drawn praise from teammates and coaches alike, and head coach Ben Johnson even named him as one of four standouts from the Bears' offseason camp.
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Confident, focused, and already turning heads, Monangai enters training camp with a real chance to carve out a role in a crowded backfield. And if his past is any indication, being overlooked won't stop him.
Related: Former Bears Coach Breaks Silence on Caleb Williams' Rookie-Year Frustration
Related: Bears 10-Year Veteran Bids Emotional Farewell to Chicago
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.