As the Detroit Lions are nearing the end of the regular season, one thing is becoming abundantly clear: running back Jahmyr Gibbs is the team MVP. Thursday's 44-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys to keep the Lions' playoff hopes alive was yet another reason why.
Gibbs may not have been the Lions' leading rusher; his 43 yards were second on the team to David Montgomery's 60-yard effort, but he was nothing short of dominant. Gibbs rushed for three touchdowns, including a game-sealing 13-yard score with just over two minutes left in the game. Gibbs' three TDs vault him to second in the NFL in total TDs, one behind Indianapolis Colts' Jonathan Taylor's 17.
3-spot for Jah boy!@Jahmyr_Gibbs1 | #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/3bst2xYveE
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 5, 2025
Gibbs also caught all seven of his targets for 77 yards, for a total of 120 yards from scrimmage. It's the third game this season where Gibbs has totaled over 70 receiving yards, all of them coming in primetime games.
With the win, the 8-5 Lions move to 8-0 in games where Gibbs records a TD. That's why he's the Lions' MVP, why he should garner serious consideration for league MVP, and why he's expected to get a massive payday this offseason.
Gibbs ties Barry Sanders in the history books
Watching Gibbs, it's easy to see Lions' legend Barry Sanders in him. The history books are beginning to reflect that, too. According to the Detroit Lions PR on X, Gibbs tied Sanders for most TDs in NFL history in their first three seasons (47).
That 47 TD mark also ties Sanders for most ever before turning 24. Gibbs will have time to claim those records outright and pad them, as he doesn't turn 24 until the offseason. Gibbs and Sanders are two of the four RBs ever to have 45+ TDs and 4,500+ scrimmage yards through their first three seasons.
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For some Lions' history, Gibbs entered Thursday tied for third-most rushing TDs in franchise history (36) with Hall of Famer Dutch Clark. Gibbs' three rushing TDs today push him alone in third place, and just three behind Billy Sims for second. Montgomery isn't too far behind, either, as he stands at fifth in franchise history with 32.
Gibbs still has a long way to go to reach Sanders' 99 rushing TDs and 109 total TDs, but performances like Thursday continue to make believers of Lions fans who were once convinced none of Sanders' franchise rushing records would fall. At the rate Gibbs is going, this will be far from the last night Gibbs and Sanders' names will be seen side-by-side.