Jahmyr Gibbs to be Detroit Lions’ true workhorse back
· Yahoo Sports
Fantasy football players, rejoice! The Detroit Lions are going to let Jahmyr Gibbs run free in 2026.
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During his press conference ahead of Detroit’s sixth OTA practice, coach Dan Campbell revealed that they plan on Gibbs being their “bell cow” back this upcoming season.
“He’s going to be our bell cow now. He really became more of that last year, but we’re going to hang our hat on him quite a bit,” Campbell said. “We’re going to do a lot of things we feel like he does well. Now, I’ve mentioned this before. He can run everything that we’ve got. He can run every scheme that anybody’s ever run. He’s not just an outside runner. He is not just a space runner. He can create his own space in the middle. And some of his biggest runs have been gap scheme right down the pipe where he’s had patience and found it and guys blocked it up well. So, we’re going to ask a lot of him.”
Last year, Gibbs set a career-high with 320 touches (243 rushes, 77 catches), played the most snaps of his three-year career (737), and earned his third straight Pro Bowl trip. With the Lions trading away David Montgomery this offseason after the veteran back requested a trade to a team that could give him a bigger role, the path is cleared for Gibbs to take another step. And the fourth-year back does not seem fazed by the task ahead of him.
“It’s not nothing I’m not used to,” Gibbs said. “Growing up I’ve always been the person that’s always had the most carries and stuff like that. I’m not looking at in any different (way) from any other year.”
As for where he can grow in this offseason in 2026, Gibbs said his game just needs to be more consistent on a week-to-week basis.
He’ll also have the help of new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing to forge a more impactful role for him in 2026. As for what that increased role will look like, that depends on what this team does well over the next few months before the season begins.
“A lot of it’s going to be dictated by what we’re good at as a unit,” Petzing said of Gibbs’ role in 2026. “Where are we the best, where are we the most effective? Who are we playing and how do we utilize his skillset to build on that?
“I mean, he does so many things at a high level that I don’t think there’s necessarily a ceiling or a cap on what that could look like, but I think that’s going to be dictated a lot by the people around them and how the pieces all fit together.”
Obviously, Gibbs won’t be completely alone. The Lions did sign Isiah Pacheco this offseason to help take some of Montgomery’s role. And Gibbs has come away impressed with the former Chiefs seventh-round pick.
“A lot of juice. He’s very energetic,” Gibbs said. “He’s a fun person to be around. He plays really hard. He wants to do anything for the team that Dan calls him to do. He’ll do it.”
Still, it is clearly now the Jahmyr Gibbs show in the Detroit Lions backfield, and that’s only going to add to the hype around a back who is already getting some Offensive Player of the Year consideration.