Jahmyr Gibbs Signs $67.5M Lions Extension, Says First Purchase Is FIFA Packs
Jahmyr Gibbs just became the highest-paid running back in NFL history. His first order of business with the money? Video game currency.
The Detroit Lions and Gibbs agreed Thursday to a three-year, $67.5 million contract extension that can max out at $75.75 million with incentives, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal includes $51.5 million guaranteed and locks Gibbs in through the 2030 season. Detroit officially announced the signing Friday.
With the ink barely dry, Gibbs crashed teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown’s interview at training camp for NFL Network. St. Brown, sensing an opportunity, asked the obvious question.
“Obviously, first off, awesome to have you back in practice. We’ve missed you,” St. Brown said. “You just signed your big deal. The fans wanna know… What’s the first purchase?”
Gibbs didn’t have a house, a car, or a jewelry run ready to go. He had FIFA.
“Ahh, I don’t know,” Gibbs said. “I might open some FIFA packs, or something.”
The exchange was posted by NFL Network on X, capturing Gibbs’ surprise pop-in during St. Brown’s sit-down with reporters Stacey Dales and Brian Baldinger
A surprise appearance during @amonra_stbrown's interview 👀@StaceyDales | @BaldyNFL | @Jahmyr_Gibbs1 | @Lions pic.twitter.com/CtpmiD0P2b
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) August 7, 2026
It’s a fitting answer for a 24-year-old whose game has always looked more like a video game exploit than a scouting report. The packs comment landed exactly the way most locker-room banter does: unscripted, a little goofy, and a reminder that even a record-breaking payday doesn’t change the guy underneath it.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Gibbs’ extension resets the running back market for the second time in a single week. He edges out Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson, who signed his own market-setting deal just days earlier, and separates further from Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley and Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor.
| Player | Team | Total Value | Guaranteed | AAV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jahmyr Gibbs | Detroit Lions | $67.5M (up to $75.75M) | $51.5M | $22.5M |
| Bijan Robinson | Atlanta Falcons | $66.75M (up to $75M) | $51M | $22.25M |
| Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts | N/A | N/A | $22M |
| Saquon Barkley | Philadelphia Eagles | N/A | N/A | $20.6M |
The timing lines up with a broader running back market correction. Gibbs, Robinson, and Taylor all signed extensions within days of each other this week, according to NFL.com, which reported the deal came together after Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter both confirmed the terms Thursday.
Why Detroit Moved Now
The Lions had a clear incentive to get this done before the season. Detroit traded David Montgomery to the Houston Texans in March, which means Gibbs walks into 2026 as the unquestioned centerpiece of the backfield rather than one half of a rotation. Isiah Pacheco arrived in free agency to provide depth, but the touches belong to Gibbs now.
Through three seasons, Gibbs has made three Pro Bowls, averaged 5.3 yards per carry, and scored 49 total touchdowns — the most by any player in NFL history through his first three years, passing Lions legend Barry Sanders’ mark of 47. Last season he played all 17 games, finishing with 1,223 rushing yards, a career-high 616 receiving yards, and 18 total touchdowns.
Head coach Dan Campbell had said publicly he was eager to get Gibbs back on the field, and the running back had been dealing with what Campbell described as a back issue during the early stretch of camp. Gibbs returned to practice in a limited capacity Thursday, shortly before the sides finalized the deal.
