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New York Times
18 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Why Rome Odunze, stronger and playing ‘freely' in Year 2, has high hopes for 2025
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Rome Odunze's birthday present included getting back to work at Halas Hall last week. He turned 23 on June 3, the first day of the Chicago Bears' mandatory minicamp. And for as much as Odunze has welcomed a more informed outlook entering his second year in the NFL, he knows he has untapped potential. He's young. Younger than Bears second-round rookie offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo and just three days older than sixth-round rookie running back Kyle Monangai. Advertisement 'I just turned 23,' Odunze said on Thursday. 'I don't have many things to focus on other than getting better.' This offseason, Odunze said, he's focused on putting himself 'in peak condition spiritually, mentally (and) physically.' He's added a few pounds of lean mass and lost some fat. He's dialed in on his upper-body strength, which he said he learned was particularly important to come out on the better side of 50-50 catches. 'There's a lot of nitpicking and grabbing in this league that isn't always shown,' Odunze said. 'I feel like I needed to build upper-body mass to be able to combat some of those things.' Unlike this time last year, when the former University of Washington receiver was joining his new team after months of pre-draft questions and evaluations, Odunze knows what's ahead of him. 'It's a different game than college football. There are different windows, different ways to get open, and there's a different pace that you have to get adapted to,' Odunze said. 'Having a full season under my belt, I feel like I'm aware of those things. 'I can now play the game freely in a way that I know where I need to be when I need to be there.' The ninth pick in the 2024 draft, Odunze's rookie season was a mixed bag. He made 54 catches for 734 yards, both ranking third among Bears receivers behind DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, and three touchdowns. He showed glimpses — like his 47-yard catch in a loss to the Colts in Week 3, which remained the longest reception for the Bears all season — but faded into the background at other times. It wasn't all on the rookie, though, as the Bears finished last in the league in total offense (283.5 yards per game). But the worst part about Year 1? Odunze didn't hesitate to answer: It was losing. The Bears finished 5-12, losing 10 of their last 11 games, as offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and then head coach Matt Eberflus were fired in-season. As Chicago welcomes a new regime led by head coach Ben Johnson, an offensive makeover is in progress. Odunze already noted the explosiveness that the new offense will prioritize. On Thursday, minicamp fun and games were the early signs of trick plays in progress. 'I think Ben (Johnson) and crew have great offensive minds,' Odunze said. 'I feel like they can help put me in positions to succeed, and that's all I can ask for. 'But at the end of the day, I've got to get out there and make plays and get the job done regardless.' Moore, who has led the Bears in receiving in each of the past two seasons, said earlier in minicamp he noticed Odunze's improvement from last year. That progress included a few highlight-worthy plays, such as Thursday, when Odunze snagged a catch through traffic from a scrambling Caleb Williams (at the 25-second mark of the clip below). Every rep counts 💪 — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) June 6, 2025 With his added comfort, developing that chemistry with Williams is Odunze's next step forward, and a particularly important one if he plans to take on a larger role. Allen is a free agent and not expected back in Chicago, which could open up more targets for Odunze, although the Bears also added two pass catchers early in the draft, taking tight end Colston Loveland at No. 10 and wideout Luther Burden at No. 39. Advertisement It's still too early to write his goals in stone, but Odunze is eyeing 1,000 receiving yards and double-digit touchdowns in the 2025 season. For the team, he didn't shy away from singling out a playoff appearance, which would be the Bears' first since 2020. Chicago has just two playoff appearances and no trips past the wild-card round since reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2010. 'When you're doing the right things and you're having success, and the team is having success, all the statistics and those numbers will come,' Odunze said. For the new 23-year-old, a 'Jordan Year' breakout would be exactly what he and Chicago desire.
Forbes
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
It's Time For Bears To Decide If They Need Another Running Back
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai works on the field during the NFL football team's rookie ... More camp in Lake Forest, Ill., Friday, May 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Having gotten their first look at rookie Kyle Monangai in a Bears uniform, it's time for Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson to decide if they're satisfied with their team's inventory of running backs. This could be the week we find out if they see a need to reach out to add a veteran from the list of free agents still on the market: Nick Chubb, J.K. Dobbins, Jamaal Williams, Jeff Wilson and Cam Akers, among others. 'We really want to get this new coaching staff with the players that we have to see if they believe that they can help us,' Poles, the Bears' general manager, said on ESPN 1000 in early May. 'But we'll always keep our eye on the short list to see if we need to bring someone in to create competition and raise the level of talent in that room.' D'Andre Swift, who enters the second season of a three-year, $24-million deal, handled 78 percent of running back rush attempts in 2024. He delivered lukewarm returns (3.8 yards per carry) but could benefit greatly from the addition of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson in Poles' overhaul of the offensive line. Poles reportedly tried to trade up in the draft for Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson but watched New England grab him one pick ahead of the Bears in the second round. Rather than move on to the next back on their list, the Bears added a receiving weapon in Luther Burden III and waited until the seventh round to select Monangai, who had 2541 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns in his last two seasons at Rutgers. This could be a great opportunity for Monangai to emerge as at least a third-down back if Poles decides not to someone like Chubb or Dobbins. Undrafted free agents Ian Wheeler and Deion Hankins join third-year back Roschon Johnson and special-team standout Travis Homer on the roster. Wheeler, a graduate of Howard University who is deferring his acceptance to medical school, opened eyes in training camp last year before tearing an ACL in the final preseason game. He's an interesting guy to watch after spending the 2024 season on injured reserve, getting healthy and anticipating his second chance. But for the time being, the eyes of new running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, Johnson and Poles are mostly on Monangai. One of his new teammates, former Maryland linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II, believes the Bears landed a huge value. He said during the recent rookie mini-camp he ranked Monangai ahead of all the running backs in the Big Ten, including Ohio State's Quinshon Judkins and Henderson. "I tell everybody that he's the best running back I faced in my career in the Big Ten," Hyppolite said on a CHGO podcast. 'He has a great ability to run behind his pads, he's fast and slippery. He knows how to get through the holes and he knows how to finish runs. He's physical … I played him for about three, four years, so I had to see him every year. It was always a good battle.' Johnson's offenses in Detroit featured tandem running backs the last two seasons, with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combining for 3045 yards. NFL insiders are skeptical he'll trust his backfield to Swift and a combination of unproven backs, putting veterans like Dobbins and Chubb into play. While Chubb has had the better career, Dobbins is coming off a better season in 2024. He failed to put his injury-prone reputation behind him, missing games with knee and ankle injuries, he helped the Chargers reach the playoffs with 905 rushing yards and 32 receptions, both career highs. At 26, he's three years younger than Chubb. Chubb played like a Hall of Famer in his first five seasons in Cleveland, he averaged only 3.3 yards per carry last season in his return from a devastating injury to his left knee in 2023. The Browns had signed him to a one-year deal for only $2.275 million and appear to have decided to move on. They drafted two running backs (Judkins and Tennessee's Dylan Sampson). Chubb believes he can become a force again in his second season after rehab, posting on Instagram a post that showed him lifting more than 500 pounds. 'They've already wrote my ending when I'm just getting started,' Chubb wrote. Pro Football Focus never ranked Chubb below seventh in the five-season run when he carried the Browns with an average of 1,268 rushing yards. But the PFF graders had 112th among 139 running backs last season. There's a question if the juice is still worth the squeeze. Another option is a trade for a veteran. Najee Harris, signed by the Chargers before they drafted Omarion Hampton in the first round, is a possibility. Ditto Cleveland's Jerome Ford, the Chubb replacement who will be challenged by Judkins and Sampson. It's time for Poles to make his call so all the newcomers can become comfortable in Johnson's offense before training camp.
CBS News
12-05-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
As Bears wrap up rookie minicamp, Kyle Monangai is noted for attentiveness and drive
The Chicago Bears wrapped up their rookie minicamp at Halas Hall Sunday. Running back Kyle Monangai said he was focused on the "little details" of being a professional football player as he went through the three-day crash course of an NFL playbook. Like rookie teammate Luther Burden III, Monangai — a seventh-round selection out of Rutgers — has a chip on his shoulder after slipping to day three of the NFL Draft. Monangai was picked at No. 233, despite the 5-foot-8-inch bowling ball putting up big rushing numbers at Rutgers. "My football career path has kind of been one of like, 'You know, he's a good player, but you know, just something off, like something — I don't think I'm going to put him on at the pedestal.' I was never always talked about in the top guys," he said. "It's not a new space, not a new environment for me. It's a role that I embrace and that I take on. I think it's what honestly has made me the player I am. I think it's given me the fuel, the motivation to be, you know, the running back I am." Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle emphasized Monangai's attentiveness and drive. "He is a very physical player. He's very willing, and then the best thing about him that translates is that he's a consummate pro. The last couple days we've been able to meet with these guys, he is front and center. He's taking notes. He's attentive. You're asking a question of the group, he's asking," Doyle said, "and I think he's going to carry himself that way. I think guys that do handle themselves that way give themselves a great shot." The minicamp was a first for new head coach Ben Johnson at the helm. When it started on Friday, Johnson told players to embrace mistakes made early on, and he is still making a few adjustments of his own as the man in charge.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears 2025 draft pick profile: RB Kyle Monangai
The Chicago Bears finally landed a running back in the seventh round with the selection of Rutgers' Kyle Monangai 233rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Monangai is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with Rutgers, and one of his greatest assets is in pass protection. He joins a Bears running back room led by D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson, so the Rutgers product will have an opportunity to compete for carries and a roster spot. Advertisement Here's a quick rundown on Monangai: The Basics Height: 5-foot-8 Weight: 211 pounds Age: 22 From: Roseland, New Jersey Breakdown "Short but stout two-time team captain who is bundled tightly into a compact, muscular frame. Monangai is quicker than fast and lacks breakaway speed but can change the track of the run at a moment's notice with unpredictable cuts at sharp angles. His vision is average and his lack of run-lane discipline will irk offensive line coaches, but he creates yardage out of nowhere and has exceptional contact balance to repel would-be tacklers. He lacks ideal third-down value, so teams will need to be comfortable with tabbing Monangai as an early-down backup who can handle a heavier carry load if needed." -- Lance Zierlein Dane Brugler's Scouting Report A three-year starter at Rutgers, Monangai was the featured weapon in offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca's zone-blocking scheme that was built around the run game. Despite being one of the lowest-ranked recruits in Greg Schiano's 2020 class, Monangai became one of the best running backs in the Big Ten and finished No. 2 in school history with 3,221 rushing yards (behind only Ray Rice). Advertisement A first-generation Cameroonian-American, Monangai isn't going to stand out as the fastest or most powerful back in this class, but he runs hard and decisive, following his blocks on traps and reaches to motor through gaps. His ball security (zero career fumbles) and overall dependability as a workhorse will be appreciated by NFL coaches. Overall, Monangai lacks breakaway speed, but he can pick, slide and weave through the defense with shifty quickness and run toughness. His competitive profile and promising reps on passing downs should make him an effective utility back in the NFL. They Said It "Physical, tough runner. High, high, high football and personal character. We believe he can come in and compete. We like his contact balance. And again, just the physical nature of how he plays football, and his pass protection is really good as well." -- Bears GM Ryan Poles RAS card Kyle Monangai RAS Grade: B Monangai's production was consistent while at Rutgers, averaging 5.0 and 5.2 yards per carry in 2023 and 2024, respectively. He also has never lost a fumble, which is arguably his best trait coming into the NFL. We'll see where he winds up on the depth chart and if the Bears opt to add another veteran at some point, but Monangai has a chance to show something in a fairly thin running back room. It's not the pick Bears fans were hoping to see at running back when the draft started, but it's something. -- Brendan Sugrue Highlights Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears 2025 draft pick profile: RB Kyle Monangai
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears 2025 draft pick profile: RB Kyle Monangai
Bears 2025 draft pick profile: RB Kyle Monangai The Chicago Bears finally landed a running back in the seventh round with the selection of Rutgers' Kyle Monangai 233rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Monangai is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with Rutgers, and one of his greatest assets is in pass protection. He joins a Bears running back room led by D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson, so the Rutgers product will have an opportunity to compete for carries and a roster spot. Here's a quick rundown on Monangai: The Basics Height: 5-foot-8 Weight: 211 pounds Age: 22 From: Roseland, New Jersey Breakdown "Short but stout two-time team captain who is bundled tightly into a compact, muscular frame. Monangai is quicker than fast and lacks breakaway speed but can change the track of the run at a moment's notice with unpredictable cuts at sharp angles. His vision is average and his lack of run-lane discipline will irk offensive line coaches, but he creates yardage out of nowhere and has exceptional contact balance to repel would-be tacklers. He lacks ideal third-down value, so teams will need to be comfortable with tabbing Monangai as an early-down backup who can handle a heavier carry load if needed." -- Lance Zierlein Dane Brugler's Scouting Report A three-year starter at Rutgers, Monangai was the featured weapon in offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca's zone-blocking scheme that was built around the run game. Despite being one of the lowest-ranked recruits in Greg Schiano's 2020 class, Monangai became one of the best running backs in the Big Ten and finished No. 2 in school history with 3,221 rushing yards (behind only Ray Rice). A first-generation Cameroonian-American, Monangai isn't going to stand out as the fastest or most powerful back in this class, but he runs hard and decisive, following his blocks on traps and reaches to motor through gaps. His ball security (zero career fumbles) and overall dependability as a workhorse will be appreciated by NFL coaches. Overall, Monangai lacks breakaway speed, but he can pick, slide and weave through the defense with shifty quickness and run toughness. His competitive profile and promising reps on passing downs should make him an effective utility back in the NFL. They Said It "Physical, tough runner. High, high, high football and personal character. We believe he can come in and compete. We like his contact balance. And again, just the physical nature of how he plays football, and his pass protection is really good as well." -- Bears GM Ryan Poles RAS card Grade: B Monangai's production was consistent while at Rutgers, averaging 5.0 and 5.2 yards per carry in 2023 and 2024, respectively. He also has never lost a fumble, which is arguably his best trait coming into the NFL. We'll see where he winds up on the depth chart and if the Bears opt to add another veteran at some point, but Monangai has a chance to show something in a fairly thin running back room. It's not the pick Bears fans were hoping to see at running back when the draft started, but it's something. -- Brendan Sugrue Highlights Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
