The hype surrounding Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery’s 2021 season is high. And it should be.
Montgomery was one of the NFL’s top running backs over the final six games of the 2020 season and, assuming his workload continues to match a featured-back level, there’s no reason to expect anything less than 1,300 rushing yards and around 10 touchdowns.
The folks at NFL.com agree, too, as it’s Montgomery who was dubbed the Bear who’s most likely to earn his first Pro Bowl bid.
I never bought a ticket for the Montgomery Hype Train. It felt like a rough ride inside a dull Chicago offense in search of itself. From Week 12 on, though, the young runner morphed into something special, averaging 99.7 ground yards per tilt. He’s a help through the air, too, hauling in 24 catches over that stretch and 54 grabs on the year. It’s no small chore making the Pro Bowl as a back, but if Justin Fields can flip the switch under center (after we collectively tolerate Andy Dalton for a week or two), this offense has a shot to be fiery.
Montgomery finished the 2020 season with 1,047 yards and eight touchdowns in what felt like a preview for what’s to come in 2021.