What is David Montgomery's Fate?

As the 2022-2023 season nears, the end of David Montgomery's rookie contract is also getting closer. The question is what will become of the Bears' workhorse running back?

The Bears have had great running backs in the past, but it's been a hot minute since we've had a household name in the starting slot. The starting running back that played past his rookie contract was Matt Forte. In the years since Forte was let go to play two years for the Jets, the Bears have tried Jeremy Langford, Jordan Howard, Tarik Cohen, and most recently Montgomery. In those same years, the Bears have gone through head coaches Marc Trestman, John Fox, and Matt Nagy.


Do we look at this and think a new coach equals a new running back? Did they notice something we hadn't? Since they all left the Bears they haven't had much success. Forte retired in 2017, after only playing two more years, for the Jets, where in his last year he only started 4 games. Langford only started 5 games in two years for the Bears in Jordan Howard's absences. He called it quits in 2018 after not playing in 2017. Howard and Cohen are free agents but Cohen tore his Achilles tendon while working out live and Howard was an Eagle this last year but was not resigned.



In Montgomery's three years as a Bear, he has had 889, 1070, and 849 yard seasons. Compared to Howard's three years with the Bears, he had 1313, 1122, and 935 yards. The Bears still traded him to the Eagles for a conditional 6th-round pick. CBS Sports leans towards the Bears treating Montgomery much they did with Howard and getting picks for him.
The coaches have all spoken highly of Montgomery. Eberflus saying:


With a quote like that, you would like to think that Montgomery's job is safe. But at the same time offensive coordinator like to run two backs, after just having Aaron Jones and AJ Dillion. That could mean that there are going to be more snaps going to Khalil Herbert or do the Bears trade for another back?


So again I ask, what is David Montgomery's fate this year? Play out and work his tail off in a prove-it year to get a better contract. Have his snaps shared and role lowered so the team can hope to sign him to a smaller contract. Get traded away for a couple later round picks. With all-new management, time will tell.