​Chicago Bears training camp is almost here, signaling that it’s time to start looking ahead to the roster set to report to Lake Forest this month. Rookies and quarterbacks are due at Halas Hall on July 25, with veterans joining the group on July 28. But before the camp opens, we’re rolling out our Bears 2026 training camp position previews, breaking down every player by role and outlining the biggest question each unit faces. After tackling the quarterbacks, we turn to the running back position, which features a dynamic duo at the head of the group. On paper, veteran D’Andre Swift is the starter, coming off what may have been his best season as a pro. He’ll be sharing the backfield with second-year power back Kyle Monangai, who burst onto the scene last year after being selected in the seventh round out of Rutgers. Behind them, Roschon Johnson and Brittain Brown are in the mix after limited carries in 2025, while Salvon Ahmed and Coleman Bennett will hope to turn heads with a strong camp and push for a larger role.
Here’s a closer look at the Bears’ running backs heading into training camp: D’Andre Swift’s path to relevance over the past year is a tale of resilience and timely adjustments. He was once viewed as a potential offseason cut candidate and even labeled a questionable fit by some during the early days of the new coaching staff. A lingering injury and questions about his health circulated as the team prepared for a Week 3 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Yet Swift answered those concerns in dramatic fashion. With a revamped rushing strategy and behind an improved offensive line, he delivered a season that featured career highs in rushing yards (1,087), rushing touchdowns (9), and first downs (62), all while averaging an efficient 4.9 yards per carry and handling a workload that allowed him to stay productive without wearing down. The numbers tell part of the story, but the on-field impression is equally compelling: Swift looked more decisive, hit holes with greater conviction, and carried a level of physicality that had been missing in 2024. The three-year, $24 million contract he signed two seasons ago is increasingly looking like a strong return on investment, and there’s little reason to anticipate any slowdown in 2026.
The Bears were in search of a true complement for Swift last offseason, and they found it in seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai. Monangai arrived amid a draft class rich in running backs, and some viewed the selection with skepticism. In practice, it turned into a boon. Monangai spent his early time behind Swift, biding his time until opportunities arose. Those opportunities came in the middle of the season, and he didn’t disappoint. His breakout moment arrived in Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals, when he erupted for 176 yards on 26 carries while stepping in for an injured Swift. That performance signaled Monangai’s readiness to contribute as more than a change-of-pace option. From there, he and Swift formed a formidable duo, effectively rotating in a way that kept both backs fresh and maintained a relentless ground attack. The two backs combined for substantial yardage and demonstrated the kind of complementary balance that defenses struggle to anticipate. Monangai’s emergence helped solidify the Bears’ ground game as one of the league’s more effective units, and it’s reasonable to expect that partnership to continue to grow in 2026. This duo’s presence, along with a depth chart that includes Roschon Johnson and Brittain Brown, provides the Bears with several ways to pace their rushing attack and sustain momentum across games. As the camp opens, all eyes will be on how Swift and Monangai build on last season’s success, how the other backs push for more carries, and how the Bears’ overall rushing strategy emerges under the new coaching staff.