Chicago Bears: New OC Likely Spells Doom For Once Promising Running Back
The NFL is a league of constant change. One minute, you are a promising rookie with a bright future, and the next, you are fighting just to stay on the roster. For Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson, that reality is hitting hard this offseason.
After a quiet 2025 season, Johnson finds himself on shaky ground. The arrival of a new offensive voice in Press Taylor, combined with the emergence of younger talent in the backfield, has created a perfect storm that could push the former Texas Longhorn out of Chicago.
Chicago Bears Roschon Johnson: A Promising Start That Stalled
When the Bears drafted Roschon Johnson in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, fans were excited. He was seen as a bruising, do-it-all back who could complement the speed of the other runners on the roster. His rookie year showed flashes of that potential. He racked up over 500 total yards and proved to be a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield.
However, the momentum didn’t carry over. In his second season, his production dipped significantly. Then came the 2025 season—a year that was supposed to be a breakout but ended up being a breakdown. Johnson struggled to find the field, logging just two carries over seven games while battling a series of nagging injuries to his foot, thumb, and back.
Availability is the best ability in the NFL, and Johnson simply hasn’t been available enough to secure his spot. Now, as the Bears look to build on a successful season under head coach Ben Johnson, they have to make tough decisions about who fits their future.
The Press Taylor Effect
The coaching staff shakeup this offseason is a major factor working against Johnson. With offensive coordinator Declan Doyle leaving for Baltimore, the Bears promoted passing game coordinator Press Taylor to a larger role.
While head coach Ben Johnson still steers the ship, Taylor’s influence on the offense will undoubtedly grow. Taylor’s background with the Jacksonville Jaguars offense favored versatile, explosive backs like Travis Etienne. He generally leans toward backs who can be dynamic weapons in the passing game and create big plays in space.
Roschon Johnson is a solid, physical runner, but he isn’t necessarily the explosive playmaker that Taylor typically covets. This schematic mismatch puts Johnson in a precarious position. If Taylor wants to mold the running back room to fit his preferred style, he might look for players who offer more speed and versatility than Johnson currently provides.
There is even speculation that Taylor’s connection to Etienne could make the Jaguars star a potential target for the Bears, further crowding an already competitive room.
The Rise of Kyle Monangai
Perhaps the biggest threat to Roschon Johnson’s roster spot comes from within. The Bears found a gem in the seventh round of the 2025 draft: Kyle Monangai.
Draft position doesn’t matter once you step on the field, and Monangai proved that quickly. He leaped over Johnson on the depth chart, showing the kind of durability and production the coaching staff was looking for. With D’Andre Swift locked in as the starter (assuming his contract situation remains stable), the battle is for the RB2 and RB3 spots.
Monangai has already proven he can handle the workload and stay healthy, something Johnson has struggled to do. If the Bears decide to keep a tight roster, it makes little sense to keep a veteran backup who can’t stay on the field over a younger, cheaper option who has already outperformed him.
What Comes Next?
The writing is on the wall for Roschon Johnson. The Bears are entering a window where they need to maximize every roster spot to compete for a championship. They cannot afford to carry dead weight or rely on players who are consistently unavailable.
Between the financial implications of the running back room, the schematic preferences of Press Taylor, and the emergence of Kyle Monangai, Johnson is facing an uphill battle. He will likely need to have a spectacular offseason and training camp just to make the team.
More likely, however, the Bears may look to move on. whether through a trade or a release, allowing them to bring in fresh legs via the draft or free agency to compete behind Swift and Monangai. It’s a tough break for a player who once looked like a steal, but in the NFL, business always comes first.
