The Detroit Lions’ decision to draft running back Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft, just a month after signing David Montgomery in free agency, has paid off in a big way.
he Lions have bucked conventional wisdom with this approach, and it has proven effective on the field.
Last season, Montgomery and Gibbs both had double-digit rushing touchdowns (13 and 10, respectively), with Montgomery rushing for 1,015 yards and Gibbs adding 945 yards.
This historic dual rushing effort nearly made the Lions just the seventh team in NFL history to feature two 1,000-yard rushers in a single season.
Now, through the first eight games of the 2024 season, they are on pace to accomplish that rare feat.
Gibbs has rushed for 656 yards, putting him on track for 1,394 yards over a full 17-game season, while Montgomery has 488 yards, projecting to 1,037 yards.
If both players maintain their current paces, they could join an elite list of NFL teams to have two 1,000-yard rushers in a season, including the 1972 Miami Dolphins and the 2009 Carolina Panthers.
While “on pace” stats can be tricky midway through a season, Montgomery and Gibbs’ success so far makes them serious contenders to achieve this rare milestone in 2024, showcasing the Lions’ commitment to a dynamic and powerful running game.
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