The Chicago Bears have one of the top offensive teams from last season returning for 2026. As a result, they are expected to carry that momentum into the second year of coach Ben Johnson’s tenure. The running game has been nothing short of outstanding as a major part of the team. Let’s take a look at one outlet’s rankings for the running back group and where Chicago lands on that list.
The Chicago Bears rank seventh in running back tandems
Dec 20, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears running back D’Andre Swift (4) reacts as he takes the field before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
CBS Sports’ Carter Bahns wrote an article ranking the top eight running back tandems. This article follows the Atlanta Falcons signing Brian Robinson Jr. He places the Bears’ duo of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai seventh. Below is what he wrote about the placement:
“D’Andre Swift just turned in the best season of his career, and he did so even while ceding 169 carries to his rookie teammate. What Kyle Monangai accomplished with those opportunities (racking up 783 yards and five touchdowns) set the stage for what should be a stellar career of his own. They combined to form the No. 3 rushing offense in the NFL, and if we know anything about coach Ben Johnson, it is that he can build the best one-two punch at this poisition. It’s too early to say Swift and Monangai are the next Gibbs and Montgomery, but any improvement in Year 2 together would move them closer to that tier.”
Only six other running back tandems were ranked ahead of Swift and Monangai. Below are the teams and tandems that are ranked higher than the Bears:
Los Angeles Rams (Kyren Williams, Blake Corum)
Atlanta Falcons (Bijan Robinson, Brian Robinson Jr)
New Orleans Saints (Travis Etienne Jr, Alvin Kamara)
Buffalo Bills (James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson)
Miami Dolphins (De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon II)
Detroit Lions (Jahmyr Gibbs, Isiah Pacheco)
The Bears have been one of the premier offensive teams in the sport. The team has two young running backs and is the only one of the top seven tandems without a star running back leading the way. It will be intriguing to see how much Chicago wants to lean on the running game in the second year of coach Ben Johnson’s tenure.
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