Running back is the one positional group on the Chicago Bears offense that has remained relatively stable throughout franchise history. Any Bears fan will tell names like Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Matt Forte, and Thomas Jones. The list goes on and on for the Monsters of the Midway.
General manager Ryan Pace has been successful when it comes to addressing the running back position, finding gems like Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen, and most recently David Montgomery. As Montgomery enters his third season, he’s lived up to expectations. During his freshman and sophomore campaign, the former Iowa State product totaled 2582 yards from scrimmage, impacting Chicago’s rushing and ariel attack.
Entering year three, Montgomery appears to be set up for a career year. Throughout 2019 and 2020, Montgomery’s production took a hit due to porous quarterback and offensive line play. As a hard runner who imposes his will, few opportunities existed for Montgomery to truly show the impact he could make.
With the Bears overhauling the offensive line, drafting guys like Teven Jenkins and Larry Borom, the goal is for Chicago’s offensive line to play with a mean streak, something that will positively impact the Bears’ offense.
Don’t be mistaken. This isn’t to say that Montgomery has underperformed by any means. He just hasn’t gotten the opportunity to truly showcase how dominant he can be, especially in an offense where a dual-threat running back is valued.
Head coach Matt Nagy knows how valuable Montgomery is to the Bears’ offense. During the 2019 NFL Draft, Chicago traded up 14 spots in round three to grab Montgomery, labeling him an ideal fit in Chicago’s offense. As the Bears continue to prepare for the 2021 season, Montgomery has shown he can be an offensive cornerstone for the Bears but if Montgomery’s 2020 season is any indication, it’s that the third-year running back appears to be set up for success that Chicago first hoped for when drafting Montgomery in 2019.