Jahmyr Gibbs got his money. Now Dan Campbell wants more out of him.
Four days after the Detroit Lions made Gibbs the highest-paid running back in NFL history, Campbell stood in front of reporters at training camp and made it clear the three-year, $67.5 million extension wasn’t the finish line.
“We’re going to push him. We’re going to push him because we think this kid can be one of the best,” Campbell said, per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. “We’ve only scratched the surface of him.”
That’s not just coach-speak. It’s a workload promise, and it’s landing at the exact moment Detroit’s depth chart is thinning out around him.
A Record Deal, Then Straight Back to Work
Gibbs’ extension runs through 2030 and includes $51.5 million guaranteed, according to Spotrac. It ended a hold-in that kept him out of padded practices for the Lions’ first six camp sessions. He returned to the field in a limited role before the deal became official, and by Friday he was talking openly about how draining the process had been.
“This process has been extremely stressful. I just wanted to play ball,” Gibbs said, per ESPN. “I missed being out there with my teammates and coaches and it’s just fun being out there now with my pads and stuff on. It just feels a lot better.”
The timing of Campbell’s comments matters. Detroit didn’t just pay Gibbs — it restructured its whole backfield around him. The Lions traded David Montgomery, his running mate for three seasons, to the Houston Texans this offseason and brought in Isiah Pacheco as a depth piece, not a co-starter. Gibbs and Montgomery combined for 8,185 scrimmage yards and 82 touchdowns from 2023-25. That partnership is over. Gibbs is now Detroit’s bellcow, full stop.
The numbers back up why Campbell is comfortable making that bet. Gibbs finished the 2025 season with 1,223 rushing yards on 5.0 yards per carry, 616 receiving yards and 18 total touchdowns, becoming just the eighth player in NFL history to post back-to-back 1,800-yard scrimmage seasons before turning 24. His 49 touchdowns through three seasons are the most in NFL history over that span, passing Lions great Barry Sanders. He’s the current favorite for Offensive Player of the Year.
The Backfield Isn’t the Only Thing Changing
Gibbs’ bigger role is arriving alongside a real problem elsewhere on the roster. On Sunday, Campbell announced that backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is stepping away from football, with retirement considered likely. Bridgewater was officially placed on the reserve/retired list, and Detroit moved fast — signing veteran Josh Dobbs to a one-year deal just hours later, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
That leaves Jared Goff without the experienced insurance policy Detroit expected to have behind him this season, and it puts more pressure on the offense to stay efficient and avoid empty possessions — which is exactly the kind of situation where an increased workload for Gibbs, as both a runner and receiver, becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity. A heavier Gibbs workload doesn’t just boost his own numbers; it’s now part of how Detroit compensates for thinner depth at the game’s most important position.
| Category | 2025 Stat |
|---|---|
| Rushing Yards | 1,223 |
| Yards Per Carry | 5.0 |
| Receiving Yards | 616 |
| Total Touchdowns | 18 |
| Career Touchdowns (3 seasons) | 49 (NFL record) |
What’s Next
Detroit opens the preseason on August 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals — the first look at how the Lions plan to deploy Gibbs with Montgomery gone and a new quarterback room taking shape behind Goff. The Lions missed the playoffs last season at 9-8, and Campbell’s comments suggest the plan for getting back is straightforward: hand the ball to the back they just paid more than they’ve ever paid anyone, and see how far he can take them.
