Jahmyr Gibbs is a team-first guy.
He fits perfectly within the Detroit Lions' culture as a result. Players like him, or Penei Sewell, or Jared Goff, really encapsulate what makes this team so easy to root for - you're always going to see maximum effort from these core team members with one goal in mind: the betterment of the team, and an eventual Super Bowl berth.
Gibbs, of course, is one of a few remaining core players still due up for a contract extension. Following Jack Campbell's deal getting done, he's the logical next man up for a pay day. But, he's not that concerned about that. He told reporters during OTAs, "I'm worried about the team. I'm just tryna hoop right now."
ESPN's Eric Woodyard also shared in the same snippet above regarding Gibbs' impending extension, and its lining up with Bijan Robinson being due for an extension, "I don't really pay attention to all that stuff."
Gibbs couldn't care less about impending contract extension (but he should)
The Atlanta Falcons just gave tight end Kyle Pitts a whopping three-year, $54 million extension. This impacts the Lions in two ways, although the latter way might not be as apparent: the first way this effects them is with their contract extension talks between themselves and Sam LaPorta, who is due for a new deal, as well.
Detroit didn't pick up his fifth-year option, so this season could be his last with the Lions if they can't get a deal done with him prior to 2027 free agency. His back injury suffered in 2025 might be a concern for the team, but if it isn't, LaPorta is looking at a deal that could land him in the top-5 of tight ends in AAV: Spotrac has his value set at a four-year, $73.6 million contract.
The other end of this deal for Pitts is that the Falcons might not be as ready to throw a bag at Robinson. They did pick up his fifth-year option, so they might feel comfortable letting him ride out that deal and then figuring out an extension ahead of 2027. Gibbs' fifth-year option was also picked up, although, the Lions have the tendency to do that and still get extensions done.
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With this Pitts deal, and their previous Drake London deal, they may be hesitant to round out their contract extensions with one that could very well reset the entire running back market.
It almost feels like a game of chicken is being played on the books between Detroit and Atlanta: who will be the first to secure their franchise running back on a deal that'll be immediately scrutinized, as you're not traditionally expected to entrust your running back with such a large deal.
Either way, Gibbs doesn't seem that worried about a deal getting done, and there's been absolutely no indication that he'd be missing out on training camp as a result of no extension on the table yet.
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