Incredible stats prove why Jahmyr Gibbs is already a superstar
By Max DeMara
![](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3535,h_1988,x_0,y_134/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/53/01j2ecj4zry5655mrt23.jpg)
The Detroit Lions took a controversial big swing to land running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. But the move paid off, to say the least, as he posted over 1,200 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns during the regular season as a rookie.
Gibbs became one of the top young running backs in the game, breaking off several big runs that changed games for the Lions down the stretch. Even though Gibbs played well, it could be hard for fans to fully quantify just how good he was.
Fortunately, Warren Sharp has provided a deeper look. Five of his 10 rushing touchdowns came from over 10 yards out
most rushing TDs from outside the 10-yard line since 2021
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 8, 2024
10 - WR Deebo Samuel
10 - RB Derrick Henry
9 - RB Nick Chubb
9 - RB Kenneth Walker III
8 - RB Tony Pollard
7 - RB Jonathan Taylor
7 - RB Raheem Mostert
7 - RB Christian McCaffrey
6 - QB Josh Allen
6 - RB…
The list is a who's who of big plays in the NFL over the last three years, and is a good way to quantify explosion. The more touchdowns a player has inside the 10 yard line, the easier it would be to typify them as a sledgehammer. To see Gibbs place on the list for scoring from outside the 10 yard line shows that he is consistently getting loose in the open field and creating big plays for the Detroit offense all over.
Detroit's offense suffered from a lack of consistent big plays in 2021 and 2022, but the addition of Gibbs has changed the narrative. Moving forward, it would be easy to say that Gibbs is the biggest key to the offense remaining elite.
Jahmyr Gibbs kept fantastic company as a rookie
Not only is Gibbs looking like an elite playmaker for years to come, but Sharp revealed more select company he put himself in as a rookie.
all 10 rushes of 20+ yards from Jahmyr Gibbs
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 9, 2024
he had the #2 most rushes of 20+ yards of any player last year despite being a rookie & sharing a backfield
rookie RBs with over 5% of rushes gaining 20+ yards since 2010 (min 150 att)
Nick Chubb
Saquon Barkley
Jahmyr Gibbs https://t.co/eB7h8Py4cV pic.twitter.com/9iCvDW8FEI
Gibbs could take full reigns as the lead back for the Lions this year, and not give the role back for quite a while. In terms of being/becoming one of the best running backs in the league, he's off to about as good a start as someone could have sharing the workload like he did as a rookie.
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