Kyle Monangai took an opportunity to give some praise back to Ben Johnson

After the Chicago Bears took Kyle Monangai in the seventh round of last April's draft, it didn't take long for head coach Ben Johnson to praise the rookie running back.

"In the running back room, Kyle Monangai has really stepped up", Johnson said after mandatory minicamp in June. "I appreciate the attention to detail and the pride he takes and how quickly he's picking things up."

In early August, as training camp got going, Johnson continued to praise Monangai.

"I've been very pleased with where he’s at,” Johnson said. “I think he’s a guy that we’re going to be able to trust this fall.”

And finally, heading into the season opener, Johnson did it again.

Kyle Monangai takes opportunity put praise back onto Ben Johnson

Monangai had a nice rookie season sharing the backfield with D'Andre Swift, with 783 yards and five touchdowns on 169 carries. There was a solid argument that he should have seen more work than he did at times, with the energy and unique fierceness he brought as a runner.

Monangai showed what he can do in a workhorse role with 26 carries for 176 yards when Swift missed Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals, which easily fueled those ideas he should see more carries. He followed that breakout with a four-game touchdown streak, capped by another 100-plus yard outing against the Philadelphia Eagles on Black Friday.

As the Bears cleaned out their lockers after their playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the praise for Johnson was widespread and impossible to miss. Players who had experienced the Matt Eberflus regime definitely appreciated the culture Johnson was able to establish so quickly during his first season as head coach.

Monangai was, of course, not among those players who were around in previous years, but he summed up Johnson's impact as well as anyone who was.

“(He's an) offensive genius, as everybody knows. But just him as a person, as a coach, he demands a lot from us but for the right reason. He knows what it takes to win.”

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Johnson set a high standard upon arrival in Chicago. The players bought in, with a division title and a playoff win as proof that his message landed credibly in the locker room. Monangai probably heard some unflattering stories about Eberflus, which is why he said "for the right reason" about Johnson, as he took the opportunity to praise his head coach.