The Jahmyr Gibbs 2026 hype train just keeps on chugging.
In a piece making one bold prediction for every NFL team in 2026, CBS Sports’ Douglas Clawson predicted the Detroit Lions running back to set the NFL record for scrimmage yards in a season.
The current record is 2,509, set by Tennessee Titans great Chris Johnson in 2009.
It doesn’t even register among the most eyebrow-raising predictions on the list. (Clawson had the New York Football Giants making the Super Bowl, and Kyler Murray winning MVP).
Clawson argued more volume for Gibbs in 2025 will lead to eye-popping numbers. He wrote:
"“Gibbs is already on a historic two-year run as the only RB all-time with 100+ scrimmage yards per game, 1+ scrimmage TD per game on fewer than 20 touches per game in back-to-back years. Imagine what he can do with say 400 touches, instead of the 320 he logged in 2025? He doesn't even have a 30-touch game in the last two years”"Douglas Clawson, CBS Sports
Gibbs predicted to break scrimmage yards record in 2026
Gibbs has already broken at least one running back-related record before the season even started— with the three year contract extension he signed in August, he’s the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history.
It comes on the heels of what is shaping up to be the biggest season in his career if he can stay healthy. The Lions traded running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans, officially handing Gibbs the keys to the backfield.
Head coach Dan Campbell said Gibbs would be the Lions’ “bell cow” running back all the way back in June. Maybe not the best negotiation tactic, but there’s no point in playing coy when you’ve got a talent like that on your team.
“I appreciate them having that much trust in me,” Gibbs said of being the workhorse back after signing his extension. “For me, it's not something that I'm not used to. I think I've always been in that role till I came here. And yeah, I'm ready for it. It's going to be fun.”
Last year, Gibbs had the NFL’s fifth-most yards from scrimmage while getting the seventh-most touches in the league.
He’d almost certainly have to lead the NFL in touches to break the 2,509-yard mark. That’s certainly possible with Montgomery no longer in town, but it also may not be likely considering the other talent on Detroit’s offense.
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Consider last year’s leader in touches, Christian McCaffrey. He played on an offense that was essentially devoid of other talent and was only further encouraged to force-feed him the ball with injuries to its starting quarterback and star tight end.
Detroit, is obviously hoping for as few injuries on the offensive side of the ball as possible. They’ve had enough of those on defense anyways, and that unit is again ravaged by injuries entering this year.
It’s worth noting that the Lions have taken steps to improve their offensive line this season with the addition of first-round right tackle Blake Miller and free agent center Cade Mays. Though the latter is, of course, injured until at least October.
Still, if health otherwise permits, Gibbs might be competing with too many other players (Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jameson Williams) for touches to accrue the sheer volume needed to break such a record.
But an optimist would point to 2024’s touch leader, Saquon Barkley, who played on an offense featuring two star receivers and a quarterback who could run the ball himself. Leading the league in touches and scrimmage yards can be done with other stars, as long as you’re a dynamic rusher and receiver.
Gibbs is certainly that. We could be in for a special 2026 season.
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