There were plenty of positive takeaways from the Chicago Bears' promising season. However, the emergence of 2025 seventh-round running back Kyle Monangai has to be at or near the top of the list.
Fittingly, Monangai had an impressive rookie campaign for a Bears squad that exceeded expectations and snapped a four-year playoff drought. He was a pleasantly surprising key piece of one of the NFL's most productive and efficient ground games. His efforts may have gone unnoticed by folks outside Chicago, except for legendary quarterback Tom Brady.
It feels safe to say that Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl champion who holds nearly every major passing record, knows a thing or two about football. So, hearing him give Monangai an honorable mention for LFG Offensive Rookie of the Year should certainly excite Bears fans.
Tom Brady praises Kyle Monangai in a way Bears fans will love
Brady's choice for his made-up award was Carolina Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. Nevertheless, that wasn't without giving Monangai well-deserved flowers.
"[Monangai] ran so hard — so forceful and determined," Brady said. "He was like a dynamo back there. Every time that Caleb [Williams] handed the ball off to him, he was running through people's facemasks. I love that style of play, and you had a tremendous year, Kyle; way to go.
Brady's analysis, the eye test, and the numbers all tell the same story about the Rutgers product. Monangai doesn't shy away from defenders and uses his strength to gain extra yards and help keep the chains moving. Here's where the latter ranked in the following metrics among 65 tailbacks with at least 50 carries this season.
- 13th-best stuff rate (40.2 percent)
- 24th in yards after contact (393)
- 25th in yards after contact per attempt (2.33)
Using that same filter, Monangai finished ninth in success rate on man/gap concepts (60 percent) and 10th in yards per carry (5.29). He's a downhill runner who relishes physicality and will plow through anyone who tries to bring him down, as Brady alluded to. This gave Chicago the much-needed thunder to D'Andre Swift's lightning in the backfield.
As the ultimate success story of a less-heralded prospect, Brady knows someone who embraces the underdog mentality upon spotting them. Sheer will and determination can neutralize a lack of athleticism, which scouts often overlook. By the sound of it, he believes that Monangai is a prime example.
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"You can't measure heart," Brady stated. "That's what they miss at the combine."
Note: Stats courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite ($).