David Montgomery still plays running back for the Detroit Lions. And he was their leading rusher last season.
That statement is necessary because in seemingly the vast majority the national media attention drawn by the Lions after their 12-5 2023 campaign, one in which they won a division title and won a playoff game – each for the first time in at least 30 years – while reaching the NFC Championship game, there has been hardly any mention of Montgomery when the subject of Detroit’s running game comes up.
Despite the fact that Montgomery – who was signed as a free agent from the Chicago Bears last offseason – just led the team with the fifth-best rushing attack (135.9 yards per game) in the NFL, posting 1,015 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, Jahmyr Gibbs has received most of the national attention.
Now, nothing at all against Gibbs.
The former Alabama back had an outstanding rookie season (particularly in the second half of the year and in the playoffs), logging 945 yards rushing, 1,261 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns. Gibbs was a big part of the offense and has the potential to be much better.
But he is only half of possibly the league’s best running back tandem.
Gibbs is the lightning to Montgomery’s thunder. Montgomery is the hammer who softens up the defense, while Gibbs is the speedy game-breaker who slices and dices.
However, it was actually Montgomery who had the Lions’ longest run from scrimmage in 2023 with a 75-yard touchdown scamper in a 41-38 road win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 10.