The Detroit Lions could break up the most potent backfield duo in the NFL.
With Jahmyr Gibbs taking on a starring role, Lions general manager Brad Holmes said Thursday that the Lions could consider trading David Montgomery this offseason.
"Those are conversations that we're going to have to have because I've got a lot of respect for that player," Holmes said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. "He deserves to be in a situation where his skill set can be utilized. And so yeah, would love it for it to be here, but if it can't be here, then you would have to just see what you can work out the best for him."
Gibbs took over the starting role in 2026, starting all 17 games, earning 1,223 rushing yards and 13 rushing scores on 243 totes. Montgomery saw 158 carries for 716 yards, both career lows, with eight touchdowns. Gibbs played 713 snaps to Montgomery's 395 in 2025.
Even with the lopsided distribution, Gibbs and Montgomery were one of two RB duos to earn 700-plus rushing yards and six-plus rushing TDs in 2025 (Rams' Kyren Williams and Blake Corum).
Several issues factored into Montgomery's waning touches. The Lions made a concerted effort to get the dynamic Gibbs the ball more. The offense as a whole was much less effective, resulting in fewer opportunities to divvy up carries. The offensive line struggles played a massive role in the situations in which Montgomery's skill set could be utilized.
The Lions went away from Montgomery down the stretch. In the final eight games, the veteran back saw double-digit carries just once after doing so seven times in the first nine tilts. He generated just one game of 75-plus yards (Week 3 vs. Baltimore; 12 carries, 151 yards, two TDs) after having five such games in 14 appearances in 2024.
Montgomery never publicly complained about his role this season, but Birkett, a longtime Lions beat reporter, reported that, internally, he was frustrated with his lack of use, per a source who knows the RB well.
Montgomery signed a two-year extension in 2024, with two years remaining on the pact, and is due a base salary of $5.49 million in 2026. A trade would result in a $6 million cap hit for an acquiring team. The Lions would be left with $4.9 million in dead money if they release the RB.
Holmes noted that he'd like to find a way to keep the bruising back.
"Look, those are discussions that we're going to have to have a lot more in-depth in terms of what is the best plan for him going forward," Holmes said. "Is it somewhere else or whatever the case may be. But just really appreciate everything that he has done for us if it does end up going that way.
"I hope it doesn't, because we love David Montgomery. He's a good football player and wish we would have been able to get more utilization from him."
If the Lions move on from Montgomery, they'll need to find a power complement to Gibbs this offseason. No other RB on the Lions roster took more than three carries in 2025.
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