There never seemed like much doubt Jahmyr Gibbs would get the contract extension he sought from the Detroit Lions.
Sure, he didn’t practice for the team’s first week or so of training camp, and made at least one cryptic post on social media. But the vibe never felt adversarial or like the two parties were far apart in negotiations.
Plus, Gibbs is simply far too important to this team.
After the Lions traded David Montgomery to the Houston Texans this offseason, head coach Dan Campbell publicly said Gibbs would be the team’s “bell cow” going forward. It was only one quote, but essentially handed Gibbs all the leverage he could want in his push for an extension.
After Gibbs did sign his extension, Campbell made the Lions’ plans for Gibbs even more clear.
“We're going to push him because we think this kid can be one of the best, if not the best,” he said. “So, we're going to push him to get there. We're going to see what he's got.”
Sounds like a guy who just became the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
Gibbs' role (and expectations) are set for 2026, and they're sky-high
Gibbs is an electric player. He’s one of the most dynamic talents to enter the league in recent years, with speed and explosiveness that is truly special. He holds the NFL record for touchdowns in a player’s first three seasons (49) and just posted his second straight season with 1,800 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns.
Gibbs was previously one-half of the “Sonic and Knuckles” backfield with Montgomery. Aside from the bond they shared off the field, Montgomery was essential in not putting too much tread on Gibbs’ tires. He handled plenty of the short-yardage and pass protection work, allowing Detroit to keep Gibbs fresh and avoid injury.
The Lions got the absolute most out of that backfield pairing. And now, for as good as he is, Gibbs is stepping into a new role as a workhorse NFL back. For his part, he didn’t seem too concerned about the increase in workload.
“I appreciate them having that much trust in me,” Gibbs said of his expanded role. “But for me, it's not something that I'm not used to. I've always been in that role till I came here. Yeah, I'm ready for it. It's going to be fun.”
There’s plenty of reasons to get excited about Gibbs’ taking over the backfield in Detroit— whether you’re a Lions fan or fantasy football head. But he’s not the biggest back in the world (listed at 5-foot-9, 202 lbs) and has not been the best pass protector in the world.
Gibbs is a fantastic player, but still has something to prove as a bonafide workhorse back. He was asked about what he wants to prove for younger running backs after signing his extension, and mentioned “being an every-down back” as essential.
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“Being able to pass protect, catch, just be explosive,” he said. “You don't want the team to have to take you off the field.”
There’s going to be more on Gibbs’ plate than ever before this season. The Lions did sign Isiah Pacheco this offseason to be their No. 2 running back, but this isn’t another “Sonic and Knuckles”. It’s not a secret whose backfield this is— especially not with the money they just gave him.
“I'm glad we got Pacheco and he's going to very much be a part of what we have, but we we're going to— we need to see where we can take Gibbs now,” he said.”We've only scratched the surface of him.”
Gibbs said he’s further along this offseason with the mental side of playing running back— diagnosing coverages and anticipating how the defense will defend him. If he is to become the true lifeblood of Detroit’s offense like they expect him to be, that’s a side of his game that is going to need to keep growing.
“I think just understanding why when we're doing stuff and just defensive stuff,” he said. “Just looking at certain looks and knowing what I'm going to get, and what coverage they're in or when they're blitzing and stuff like that. I think the physical is pretty much all there. It’s just the mental part.”
The fact that a player like Gibbs still has this much room to grow his game is a scary, scary thought for NFL defenses. Though the Lions’ offensive line has already had a major setback with the announcement center Cade Mays is dealing with a wrist injury that will keep him out 8-10 weeks, Gibbs has shown he doesn’t need stellar offensive line play to put up big numbers.
If the line can provide adequate protection and Gibbs stays healthy, he could be in for a special year. It could be a major step in Detroit returning to the postseason, and possibly contending for even more.
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