Kyle Monangai

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

North Jersey sure showed up big in Chicago.

Kyle Monangai, a Roselle native and former Rutgers football star, scored a touchdown for the Chicago Bears during the first quarter of Sunday’s, Nov. 9, matchup against Big Blue.

Then, the Giants pulled ahead after scoring 10 unanswered points in the second quarter and another touchdown in the third. The Bears, who opened the game with a first-quarter touchdown, have been held scoreless since halftime aside from a field goal.

As of 3:30, the Giants were leading the Bears, 20-10, with 10:19 left in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s, Nov. 9, matchup in Chicago.

The moment marked a full-circle milestone for the Don Bosco Prep and Seton Hall Prep alum, who spent his high school years tearing up fields across the Garden State. 

At Don Bosco in Ramsey, Monangai ran for 958 yards and 11 touchdowns on 132 carries, averaging 7.3 yards per carry and 79.8 yards per game, according to team statistics.

Monangai went on to make a name for himself at Rutgers University, where he played in 52 games with 35 starts at running back, according to his Rutgers University player profile.

A two-time All-Big Ten selection, he became the first Rutgers running back to earn All-America honors since Ray Rice in 2007.

Monangai rushed for 3,221 yards and 27 touchdowns on 669 carries, ranking second in program history in rushing yards and setting a school record for most touches without a fumble. He finished his college career with 14 games over 100 rushing yards, 3,473 all-purpose yards, and 38 receptions for 252 yards and a touchdown.

He led the Big Ten in rushing yards in 2023, earned First Team All-Big Ten honors from both coaches and media in 2024, and was named MVP of the 2023 Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl, according to Rutgers.

Monangai was selected by the Chicago Bears in the seventh round (233rd overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft.