Exit interviews: Lions' run game sees year-to-year production dip for first time in 5 years, now must answer Montgomery question
Wrapping up the Detroit Lions’ 2025 season, we’re doing our annual position-by-position evaluation of the roster. Today, we’ll focus on the play of the team’s running backs.
The straightforward stats
Jahmyr Gibbs: 243 carries, 1,223 yards (5.0 YPC), 94 targets, 77 receptions, 616 yards, 18 total touchdowns
David Montgomery: 17 games, 158 carries, 716 yards, 4.5 yards per carry, 29 targets, 24 receptions, 192 yards, eight total touchdowns
Advanced metrics
Ending a remarkable upward trend that dated to the start of coach Dan Campbell’s tenure, the ground game’s production took its first step back in five years during the 2025 season. The Lions rushed for 18% fewer yards, saw a slight dip in yards per carry from 4.7 to 4.6, and netted 27.2% fewer first downs/touchdowns on the ground.
Individually, the success rate of both backs dipped. After each finished top 10 the previous season, Gibbs dropped from 53.6% to 48.1%, while Montgomery went from 55.1% to matching Gibbs’ 48.1% rate in 2025.