Bears are looking for more explosive plays from running game

By the Editorial Team · Friday, August 7, 2026

The Chicago Bears are prioritizing their running game as a key part of their offense entering the new season, experimenting with formations during training camp to enhance ground play. This focus aims to create more explosive plays and open up passing opportunities, building on a strong rushing foundation that helped them rank ninth in the NFL last year.

The Chicago Bears are emphasizing the running game as a cornerstone of their offensive strategy heading into the new season, aiming to generate more explosive plays on the ground. Throughout training camp, the team has experimented with various formations and personnel packages, but the underlying approach remains consistent.

Right guard Jonah Jackson highlighted the importance of establishing an efficient run game, noting its impact on the overall offense. “If you can’t run the ball efficiently and you’ve got to drop back, that’s kind of an O-lineman’s worst nightmare,” Jackson said. He added that a strong running attack opens up opportunities for play action, passing, and screen plays, making it a critical element of their offensive philosophy.

Last season, under head coach Ben Johnson, the Bears ran the ball on nearly 46% of their offensive snaps, ranking ninth in the NFL. While this figure may seem moderate given Johnson’s reputation as a run-focused coach from his tenure as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, game situations influenced the play-calling balance. The Bears frequently turned to the passing game, especially during their seven comeback victories—a league-leading total.

Johnson’s commitment to the run was notably evident in Week 13, when Chicago upset the Philadelphia Eagles on the road. In that game, the team ran the ball 47 times, marking one of their highest single-game rushing attempts of the season.

Running back Kyle Monangai described Johnson’s approach as focused not just on power running but on efficiency and balance. “It’s no secret he loves to run the ball, and … explosive plays,” Monangai said. “In that, there’s efficiency as well. There’s no ‘he’s hunting them’ or ‘every play is a big hitter.’ We know that’s not the nature of football and running the football well.”

As the Bears move forward in training camp, the offense will continue to prioritize the run game, aiming to leverage it as a foundation for success while incorporating the necessary adjustments based on game flow and opponent tendencies.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.