The Detroit Lions could break up the NFL’s most potent quarterback duo.
With Jahmyr Gibbs taking over the starting role, Lions general manager Brad Holmes said Thursday that the Lions could consider trading David Montgomery this offseason.
“Those are conversations we have to have because we have a lot of respect for this player,” Holmes said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press . “He deserves to be in a situation where his talent can be utilized. And so yeah, would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here, then you just have to see what you can do best for him.”
Gibbs assumed the starting role in 2026, starting all 17 games, racking up 1,223 rushing yards and 13 rushing scores on 243 carries. Montgomery caught 158 carries for 716 yards, both career lows, with eight touchdowns. Gibbs played 713 snaps to Montgomery’s 395 in 2025.
Even with the skewed distribution, Gibbs and Montgomery were one of two RB duos to earn 700+ rush yds and 6+ rush TDs in 2025 (Rams Kyren Williams and Blake Corum).
A number of factors entered into Montgomery’s diminishing touch. The Lions made an effort to get the dynamic Gibbs the ball more. The offense as a whole was much less effective, leading to fewer opportunities to switch weapons. The offensive line played a big role in those situations where Montgomery’s talents could be utilized.
The Lions went away from Montgomery down the lane. In the last eight games, the veteran quarterback saw double-digit carries just once after doing so seven times in his first nine deficits. He had just one game of 75-plus yards (Week 3 vs. Baltimore, 12 carries, 151 yards, two touchdowns) after having five such games in 14 games in 2024.
Montgomery never publicly complained about his role this season, but Birkett, a longtime Lions reporter, said internally he was frustrated with his lack of usage, according to a source familiar with the RB.
Montgomery signed a two-year extension in 2024, with two years remaining on his contract, and is due a base salary of $5.49 million in 2026. A trade would result in a $6 million cap hit for the acquisition team. The Lions would be left with 4.9 million in dead money if they release RB.
Holmes noted that he would like to find a way to keep the bruises back.
“Look, it’s a discussion that we have to have much more in depth as to what is the best plan for him going forward,” Holmes said. “Is it somewhere else or whatever. But I just really appreciate everything he’s done for us if it ends up like this.
“I hope not, because we love David Montgomery. He’s a good football player and I wish we could have gotten more use out of him.”
If the Lions are to move on from Montgomery, they will need to find a strong complement to Gibbs this season. No other RB on the Lions roster took more than three snaps in 2025.
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