The Chicago Bears recognized they needed a comprehensive offensive overhaul following their disappointing 5-12 campaign in 2024. The team’s inability to establish any consistent ground game or protect its quarterback had become painfully obvious. So they went all-in, hiring former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and completely rebuilding their offensive line through trades, free agency, and the draft.
The defensive front also saw significant reinforcements, while the backfield remains largely intact, with one notable addition. Rookie Kyle Monangai, a seventh-round pick out of Rutgers, is the lone newcomer in the running back room, and he may already be pushing to carve out a role alongside D’Andre Swift.
How Will D’Andre Swift Transform Chicago’s Ground Game?
The Bears made a high-dollar commitment to revamp their backfield last offseason, handing former Lions and Eagles standout D’Andre Swift a $24 million deal. Swift is expected to open the season as the clear lead back, while Monangai and Roschon Johnson will provide depth behind him. Let’s break down the full rotation heading into the 2025-26 campaign.
Swift was drafted 35th overall by the Lions in 2020 and spent the first three years of his career in Detroit, where he underperformed expectations. However, in his first season with the Eagles, he recorded career-high numbers, rushing for 1,049 yards and five touchdowns.
I don’t care what people say man, D’Andre Swift can PLAY. We haven’t truly even seen what Ben has planned for him, I think he’s going to be far more efficient in the run & pass game. The RB room will be just fine. #Bearspic.twitter.com/FQ0hrkSxGi
— Luke Brost (@luke_brost) August 25, 2025
However, Swift’s 2024 season raised some concerns. He averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry and didn’t have a single 20-yard carry over his final seven games. The 26-year-old has seen his rush touchdown rate crater from once every 20.8 carries in his three seasons with the Lions to once every 46.9 carries since leaving Detroit.
Still, he’s tough to completely write off because of his proven ability to handle heavy workloads. Only Derrick Henry (81.9%) and Kyren Williams (79.6%) accounted for a higher percentage of their team’s rush attempts in 2024 than Swift’s 77.8%.
What Role Will Roschon Johnson Play in the Bears’ Backfield?
Roschon Johnson has been a jack-of-all-trades throughout his football journey. At the high school level, Johnson was a dual-threat quarterback for Port Neches-Groves High School. In his career, he finished as the all-time school leader for passing yards with 7,710 yards, while adding 4,900Â rushing yards on the ground.
Making his way to Texas as a four-star recruit, Johnson transitioned to full-time running back. Over his three seasons with the Longhorns, he was a consistently solid producer, playing behind standout Bijan Robinson.
Johnson made his way onto the professional stage after being drafted 115th overall by the Bears in the 2023 NFL Draft. His rookie season was a solid introduction to the NFL as he tallied 352 yards on 81 carries.
Last season, opportunities were relatively scarce behind Swift. As a result, his overall numbers have been less impressive, with his best outing coming against the Green Bay Packers when he rushed for 33 yards on 10 carries.
Can Kyle Monangai Make an Immediate Impact as a Rookie?
Monangai was selected with the 233rd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and entered camp sitting behind Swift and Johnson on the depth chart. However, there was growing chatter, including a bold prediction from PFSN’s Jacob Infante that Monangai could carve out a role much sooner than expected.
While that hasn’t precisely materialized yet as the rookie continues to sit behind Johnson on the depth chart, he boasts enough shiftiness between the tackles to force the Bears’ coaching staff to take notice. Monangai is coming off back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons at Rutgers, proving he can handle significant workloads at the collegiate level.
At 5’8″ and 207 pounds, he’s a compact physical presence that could add valuable depth to Chicago’s backfield rotation. His college production suggests he has the vision and burst needed to contribute when given the opportunity.
