Jahmyr Gibbs is no longer waiting on the sideline. The Detroit Lions and their star running back agreed Thursday on a three-year, $67.5 million contract extension, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, ending months of speculation over when — not if — Gibbs would get paid.
The deal can max out at $75.75 million with incentives and includes $51.5 million guaranteed. It makes Gibbs the NFL’s highest-paid running back by average annual value, at $22.5 million per year, surpassing the extension Bijan Robinson signed with the Atlanta Falcons earlier in the week.
Adam Schefter posted on X: “Last but hardly least: Three-time Pro-Bowl selection Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions reached agreement today on a three-year, $67.5 million deal…”
Last but hardly least: Three-time Pro-Bowl selection Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions reached agreement today on a three-year, $67.5 million deal that could be worth up to $75.75 million and includes $51.5 million guaranteed, now making him the NFL’s highest-paid running back,… pic.twitter.com/eCNXOg5wMv
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 6, 2026
Schefter reported the terms were confirmed by Gibbs’ agent, Todd France of Athletes First. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also reported the agreement Thursday, according to NFL.com, giving the deal the kind of dual-source confirmation that separates a done deal from a rumor.
Gibbs Cashes In After a Record-Setting Start
The timing wasn’t a surprise. Robinson reset the running back market days earlier with a three-year, $66.75 million extension in Atlanta, and Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor signed his own deal shortly after. Gibbs, sitting out practice work during a hold-in at training camp, was widely expected to be next. On Thursday morning, he hinted a deal was close, giving reporters a thumbs-up when asked about the talks before joining his first camp practice of the summer, per ClutchPoints.
Gibbs played all 17 games last season, rushing for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding career highs of 77 catches, 616 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. Through three NFL seasons, he has scored 49 total touchdowns — the most by any player in that span in league history, passing Lions great Barry Sanders’ mark.
| Running Back | Team | Years | Total Value | Guaranteed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jahmyr Gibbs | Detroit Lions | 3 | $67.5M ($75.75M max) | $51.5M |
| Bijan Robinson | Atlanta Falcons | 3 | $66.75M ($75M max) | $51M |
| Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts | 2 | $44M | N/A |
What It Means for Detroit’s Backfield
The Lions cleared the runway for this extension in March, trading David Montgomery to the Houston Texans and handing Gibbs the backfield outright. Detroit added Isiah Pacheco in free agency as a complementary piece, but with Montgomery gone, Gibbs is set to carry a heavier workload than at any point in his career.
Head coach Dan Campbell had made clear he wanted the situation resolved. He called himself “anxious” to get Gibbs back on the practice field after Robinson’s deal in Atlanta, according to The Detroit News. General manager Brad Holmes had signaled as far back as February that Gibbs was one of the players the front office intended to keep long-term.
With the extension in place, Gibbs heads into the 2026 season as a co-favorite for Offensive Player of the Year according to multiple sportsbooks, and as the unquestioned centerpiece of a Lions offense looking to bounce back from a 9-8 finish that kept Detroit out of the playoffs a year ago.
