David Montgomery Told the Lions to Pay Jahmyr Gibbs Whatever He Wants. The Receipts Are Wild.

David Montgomery isn’t exactly known for subtlety. The former Lions running back, now with the Texans, took to Instagram with a pretty direct message for Detroit’s front office regarding his old backfield mate Jahmyr Gibbs.

“Give my baby anything he want ! He earned that s***! On mamas,” Montgomery posted.

That’s not a guy mincing words. Montgomery and Gibbs formed one of the NFL’s most effective one-two punches the last two seasons, a pairing Detroit fans nicknamed Sonic and Knuckles. But the Lions traded Montgomery to Houston this offseason, clearing the way for Gibbs to become the clear lead back. And now Montgomery is essentially telling his old team: pay the man, and don’t screw around.

Why Montgomery’s Take Actually Matters

It’s easy to write this off as a buddy sticking up for a friend. But Montgomery saw Gibbs’ workload spike firsthand. In 2023, Montgomery carried 219 times for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns. In 2024, those numbers dipped to 185 carries, 775 yards and 12 scores. By 2025, Montgomery was down to 158 carries for 716 yards and eight touchdowns.

Gibbs, meanwhile, went from complementary piece to Detroit’s offensive engine. The Lions didn’t just trade Montgomery because they were done with him. They traded him because they committed to feeding Gibbs, and the numbers tell that story clearly.

The Price Tag Is Getting Real

Gibbs is eligible for an extension after three standout seasons. He’s entering training camp without a new deal, and there’s already buzz he could hold in — practice but skip the preseason work — until something gets done. NFL insiders project Gibbs could command north of $20 million per season on his next contract.

That’s a lot of money for a running back in a league that devalues the position. But the Lions have $50.42 million in projected cap space for 2027, so it’s not impossible. The question is whether Detroit’s front office views Gibbs as a franchise cornerstone at a position where most players get one big deal and then fade.

Montgomery clearly thinks they should. And given that he was literally phased out while Gibbs took over, his opinion carries more weight than most.

Training camp starts in a few weeks. The Lions haven’t said publicly whether they plan to extend Gibbs before then. But Montgomery just made sure everyone knows where he stands.