During his press conference to wrap up last season, Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes was very candid when asked about running back David Montgomery's future.
The Lions have since traded Montgomery to the Houston Texans before signing free-agent running back Isiah Pacheco to replace him.
We have now heard from Holmes again. In a lengthy exclusive interview with the Lions Collective podcast, Holmes was asked about Montgomery's departure.
"Look, it was evident that there were less touches that he had. It's not just him. It's how Jahmyr (Gibbs) had ascended. Me and David's agent, and David, we all had really healthy dialogue. We just thought it was best for all parties," Holmes said. "It was right after the end of the season, like, let’s just see if we can get the proper return. I told his agent, I was like, 'Look, this guy's a good player, man. We're not just giving him away.' We were happy with the return that we got."
"That's gonna be not only a loss of just the player, but he was such an impact in the locker room, from a leadership standpoint, our culture."
Brad Holmes gets candid about why David Montgomery was traded
It was clear back in January that if Montgomery wanted to be traded, he would be, as long as a deal made sense. And as the new league year neared, he was indeed sent to the Texans for a 2026 fourth-round pick, a 2027 seventh-round pick, and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs.
The Texans were reportedly Montgomery's preferred destination, and it's no surprise that preference was honored in deference to how well-regarded he is at Allen Park.
Montgomery proved to be a perfect fit when the Lions pivoted away from Jamaal Williams and signed him as a free agent in 2023. But last season was clearly not what he envisioned it would be, in line with Jahmyr Gibbs continuing his ascent, and when it came down to it, no one blamed him for being frustrated with his role in the offense.
The amicable split is lined up to work out well for both sides. Montgomery is on a team that will give him a bigger role. The Lions got a solid return in the trade, and they've pivoted to a solid replacement (whom Holmes acknowledged the expected affinity for) in Pacheco.