The Detroit Lions want to win a Super Bowl by any means necessary. That means there's far less scrutiny around records, or individual accolades, earned or unearned by current Lions players, since it's simply not a point of emphasis for the team right now.
Still, we are allowed to dream about a Jahmyr Gibbs MVP caliber season, or a push for Defensive Player of the Year from Aidan Hutchinson. And, one thing that fans should feel confident about potentially seeing this year from Gibbs, specifically, is him breaking the single-season rushing record.
That record, currently held by former running back Eric Dickerson (2,105), could be shattered by Gibbs, the Lions' "bell cow" on offense.
Gibbs could break long-held single-season rushing record in 2026
Two things would have to go Gibbs' way for this to be achievable: one is that Detroit's new look offense line would need to be far better at run blocking this year than last. That's a huge question mark now with Cade Mays injured and out for a significant period of time, although, the Lions do have some options at center on the roster that might make that absence sting a bit less.
The other thing that must got Gibbs' way is health. Gibbs has been an unbelievably reliable weapon for the Lions since getting drafted in 2023, but running backs tend to suffer steeper drop-offs in production than most other positional players due to the strain on their bodies that the position demands.
Knee injuries, back injuries, and general bang-ups are going to become more common for Gibbs as he ages, unless he's got LeBron James' physical therapist on speed dial.
But, assuming he remains just as healthy as he's been his entire career in 2026, there's a very decent chance that he cracks that magic number of 2,105. A fourth-place schedule coupled with a majority of touches could lead to a ridiculous year from Gibbs, who is out to prove that he was worth the highest contract for a running back in NFL history.
READ MORE: Jahmyr Gibbs has a historic prediction for Lions offense this season
FanSided's Nick Vallano agrees, writing of Gibbs' shot here:
"Gibbs just signed a massive contract, and he seems like the kind of player who wants to prove everyone right for giving him the bag. So, the focus on Gibbs with the new contract and the fact that the Lions need him to deliver, on top of a really good passing offense protecting him from certain defensive sets, will allow him to get past 2,105 rushing yards, which has been the record for more than 40 years."
A down year from Gibbs (his 2025 season) still led to 1,223 rushing yards, good for 7th in the league overall. He hit 1,412 in 2024 while sharing snaps with David Montgomery. This year, he's expected to crack his average carries of about 240-250 per season, which should open the runway for him to break Dickerson's record.
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