{"id":487818,"date":"2026-02-20T14:35:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/487818\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T14:35:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T14:35:09","slug":"inside-jahmyr-gibbs-historic-start-future-with-detroit-lions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/487818\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Jahmyr Gibbs’ historic start, future with Detroit Lions"},"content":{"rendered":"

A SMIRK CREPT across the face of Detroit Lions<\/a> running back Jahmyr Gibbs<\/a> as he emptied out his locker in early January.<\/p>\n

His stall was filled with his custom-made Air Jordan cleats, game-worn jerseys, gloves as well as other personal items and memorabilia from the season.<\/p>\n

It was a bittersweet moment for the third-year back. A day before, he capped off another outstanding campaign, accounting for 1,839 scrimmage yards (fifth most in the NFL) and 18 touchdowns (second most).<\/p>\n

Gibbs earned Pro Bowl honors for the third straight season. But the numbers and awards weren\u2019t enough to rescue the Lions from missing the playoffs for the first time since 2022 — the year before Detroit selected Gibbs 12th. He also saw his performance tail off in the final six games of the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cDisappointing for sure,\u201d Gibbs said of the Lions\u2019 finish. \u201cWe always have hopes to make it to the Super Bowl, and if not that, at least make the playoffs, and we didn\u2019t get either.\u201d<\/p>\n

Few players in the NFL\u2019s long history have had a better start to their career than the 23-year-old Gibbs. His 49 touchdowns through his first three seasons broke a record that was previously held by another Lions running back, Barry Sanders (47). The rest of the top 10 is a who\u2019s who of Hall of Famers: Gale Sayers, Eric Dickerson, Earl Campbell, Randy Moss, Marcus Allen, Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice.<\/p>\n

Since entering the league, Gibbs is seventh among all running backs with 3,580 yards, third in scrimmage yards behind only Baltimore Ravens<\/a> back Derrick Henry<\/a> and Atlanta Falcons<\/a> star Bijan Robinson<\/a>, and his 5.3 yards per carry over that span ranks second among all backs.<\/p>\n

But Gibbs says he\u2019s still not satisfied. As he cleaned out his locker, a reporter asked him if fans had seen the best version of him yet. Gibbs, who is normally quiet and mild-mannered, responded swiftly.<\/p>\n

\u201cNah. I don\u2019t think so,\u201d Gibbs told ESPN. \u201cMe personally, I could\u2019ve done a lot of stuff throughout the year to get us out of some holes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Still, what Gibbs has done thus far has set up a tricky situation for the franchise. The Lions have followed through on their stated commitment to award homegrown stars with lucrative contract extensions the past three years — re-upping with the likes of All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell<\/a>, defensive end Aidan Hutchinson<\/a>, wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown<\/a> and Jameson Williams<\/a>, and safety Kerby Joseph<\/a>, among others. Gibbs is next in line and could command a contract extension that could reset the market at the position. But the rising cost of the Lions\u2019 roster and the relatively short shelf life of running backs will likely weigh on the Lions\u2019 decision — one they might not be in a rush to make.<\/p>\n

But for now, Gibbs is focusing on what he can control — returning better than ever in 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it could be a good thing. That\u2019s how I look at it as a positive,\u201d Gibbs said of the season\u2019s frustrating end. \u201cYou learn from it. Learn as much as we can and fix mistakes going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

IN THE IMMEDIATE aftermath of the Lions\u2019 emotional 19-16 victory over the playoff-bound Chicago Bears<\/a> in the season finale, Gibbs — along with Lions quarterback Jared Goff<\/a> — was unaware of his latest milestone.<\/p>\n

After logging 113 scrimmage yards (80 rushing, 33 receiving), including a 15-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, Gibbs tied Moss (31) and Sanders (31) for the most games with a touchdown in a player\u2019s first three seasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cBarry Sanders had more than 31 games with a touchdown, right? Oh, in his first three seasons? Got it…\u201d Goff said, while interacting with reporters in the visitors locker room.<\/p>\n

As he dressed at his locker alongside Goff after beating the Bears, Gibbs appeared numb to his historic feats in 2025. His 69-yard score to beat the Giants in overtime in Week 12 had also made him the seventh player with at least 10 rushing touchdowns in each of his first three career seasons, and the first since Adrian Peterson (2007-09).<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I had no idea I had done any of that. That\u2019s cool. I don\u2019t really think about it too much,\u201d Gibbs said.<\/p>\n

While Gibbs doesn\u2019t think about his accomplishments much, Sanders has taken notice.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so happy for Jahmyr, and his teammates. It is really incredible when you think he was able to score so many times with so many other weapons on offense,\u201d Sanders told ESPN. \u201cAnd he is not done yet, I hope. It is a real testament to his ability to consistently create big plays.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gibbs\u2019 3,580 rushing yards are the 22nd most over a player\u2019s first three seasons since yardage statistics were first recorded in 1932, per ESPN Research. He is one of 19 players to record at least 3,500 rushing yards and 600 receiving yards over his first three seasons. Of the 14 Hall of Fame-eligible players who have done so, eight have been inducted.<\/p>\n

Only Henry has more explosive runs (rushes of 15 or more yards) than Gibbs\u2019 54 since Gibbs entered the league (Henry has 62).<\/p>\n

Gibbs\u2019 11 touchdowns on explosive runs are also tied with the Indianapolis Colts<\/a>\u2019 Jonathan Taylor<\/a> for the second most in that span, behind only Henry (13).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis might be a controversial opinion, but I think his future is pretty bright. I think he\u2019s a good player,\u201d Lions OL Graham Glasgow<\/a> said sarcastically about Gibbs last month. \u201cRealistically, I think that we get a little bit more consistency in calling and then also in, like, playing, I think that he and everybody else on the Lions can end up benefiting from an improved run game from even where it is now or where it was in years past.\u201d<\/p>\n

THE LIONS HAVE signed nine players to contracts worth a total of nearly $1 billion since spring 2024, and the organization has the flexibility to hold off on Gibbs\u2019 free agency longer with his fifth-year option. Gibbs will likely aim to become the highest-paid running back in league history, besting the $20.6M annual salary of the Philadelphia Eagles<\/a>\u2019 Saquon Barkley<\/a>, who signed a two-year, $41.2 million extension last March that included $36 million in guarantees and the chance to earn an additional $15 million in incentives and escalators.<\/p>\n

The Falcons are facing a comparable situation with Robinson, who was taken four spots before Gibbs in the 2023 draft.<\/p>\n

Lions GM Brad Holmes has continued to reiterate that he will prioritize re-signing players he drafted — which this offseason includes Gibbs, tight end Sam LaPorta<\/a>, defensive back Brian Branch<\/a> and All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell<\/a> — but hasn\u2019t made a decision on the timeline yet.<\/p>\n

The Lions are currently projected to be over the salary cap but could potentially clear a ton of room through contract restructures for top earners such as Goff, St. Brown, defensive tackle Alim McNeill<\/a> and cornerback D.J. Reed<\/a>. A Goff restructure alone could save as much as $40 million in cap space.<\/p>\n

Pulling those financial levers could help pave the way for Detroit to sign all four players if it wants. One way is to structure potential extensions with LaPorta, Branch and Campbell in ways that reduce those players\u2019 2026 cap numbers and create even more relief. A Gibbs extension, however, would add to his 2026 cap number by one-fifth of whatever his signing bonus would be (assuming the new deal runs through at least 2030).<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a priority because they\u2019re really good players. And look, when me and [coach] Dan [Campbell] first started, we said we were going to take the path of draft, developing and sign our own,\u201d Holmes said during his end-of-season news conference last month. \u201cAnd I do think that that has worked so far in terms of getting us to this point.\u201d<\/p>\n

GIBBS\u2019 FOCUS, HOWEVER, is improving on the field. His production dipped dramatically in the final third of the season, averaging 45.3 rushing yards per game (31st in the NFL during that span), with 3.1 yards per rush (52nd) and scoring three rushing TDs over the last six games of the season, per ESPN. Through the first 11 games of the season, Gibbs was averaging 86.5 rushing yards per game with 6.1 yards per rush along with 10 rushing touchdowns.<\/p>\n

The inconsistent performance was a unit-wide issue. In their first season without offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who left last January to become head coach of the Bears, the offense went from the league\u2019s highest scoring and most efficient in 2023 and 2024 to a clear step back in 2025 under John Morton, who was relieved by Campbell of playcalling duties midseason and fired two days after the finale in Chicago.<\/p>\n

In his place, Detroit hired Drew Petzing, who spent the past three seasons as OC of the Arizona Cardinals<\/a>. One of his main challenges will be to fix the run game.<\/p>\n

Under Petzing, the Cardinals ranked second in the NFL in rushing average (4.92) and were ninth in rushing yards (6,399) over the past three seasons. Though those numbers dipped in 2025, Petzing will try to continue the early success he had in Arizona with the Lions.<\/p>\n

Bolstering his confidence for the future, 2026 will mark Year 2 of Gibbs\u2019 NFL partnership with running backs coach Tashard Choice. Choice recruited and coached Gibbs from 2020 to 2021 at Georgia Tech before Gibbs transferred to Alabama for the 2022 season. Gibbs has called Choice one of the greatest influences on his football career and is counting on his mentorship to help him take an even larger role in the backfield.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere he\u2019s at right now, I\u2019ve got to continue to harp on him about the little details. The toughness, the finishing the runs, the seeing fronts, the seeing pressure, to sticking his face mask in there on protection,\u201d Choice said. \u201cBut to see what he\u2019s doing right now, it doesn\u2019t shock me at all because since Day 1, that\u2019s how he\u2019s always been.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gibbs is confident in the Lions moving forward to continue their offensive prowess as he continues to lead the ground attack, and his teammates are just as confident in him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll be great. I think he\u2019s a great player,\u201d Glasgow said. \u201cHe\u2019s got a good head on his shoulders. I think he\u2019s going to do great things.\u201d<\/p>\n

ESPN senior writer Dan Graziano contributed to this story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A SMIRK CREPT across the face of Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs as he emptied out his…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":487819,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[436],"tags":[49,48,104636,196379,514,82],"class_list":["post-487818","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-detroit-lions-sports-football-team-team-statscom-334","tag-jahmyr-gibbs-sports-football-player-player-statscom-1214154","tag-nfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487818","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=487818"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487818\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/487819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=487818"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=487818"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=487818"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}