The hold-in has come to an end.
A mere two days after Bijan Robinson became the highest-paid running back in NFL history, the Detroit Lions and Jahmyr Gibbs have reached an agreement on an extension that surpasses the three-year, $66.75 million contract Robinson signed. The initial details of the extension outline a three-year, $67.5 million agreement that could reach a maximum value of $75.75 million, which includes $51.5 million in guaranteed money. Although early contract figures are frequently inflated, this deal officially establishes Gibbs as the highest-paid running back in the history of the NFL.
Drafted 12th overall by the Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft, Gibbs represents the second member of that Detroit draft class to secure a contract extension with the franchise. Earlier in the offseason, the Lions signed linebacker Jack Campbell to a four-year, $81 million contract, placing him among the highest-paid players at his position.
Gibbs has rapidly developed into an indispensable component of Detroit’s offensive strategy. Across his first three seasons, he has maintained an average of 1,745 yards from scrimmage per year, recorded 49 total touchdowns, and averaged an outstanding 5.3 yards per carry. Since his debut in 2023, Gibbs ranks near the top of the league in several key categories among players with a minimum of 200 rushing attempts:
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3,580 yards on the ground — 7th
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5,029 total yards from scrimmage — 3rd
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5.3 yards per rushing attempt — 2nd
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39 touchdowns on the ground — 2nd
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49 overall touchdowns — 1st
It is worth highlighting that Gibbs achieved these statistics while sharing backfield responsibilities with David Montgomery. Now that Montgomery has joined the Texans, Detroit intends to expand Gibbs’ role, believing there are no limits to his capabilities on the field.
“He is going to be our primary workhorse now,” head coach Dan Campbell stated in June. “He increasingly took on that role last season, but we are going to rely on him heavily moving forward. We plan to utilize him in many ways that highlight his unique skill set.
“I have remarked on this previously: he is capable of executing our entire playbook. He can run any scheme that has ever been designed. He is not merely an outside threat or a space player. He can create his own running lanes up the middle. Some of his most explosive runs have been gap-scheme plays right up the center, where he demonstrated patience, let the blocking develop, and hit the hole. Consequently, we are going to expect a great deal from him.”
With Gibbs and Jack Campbell now under long-term contracts, attention shifts to two other key figures from the 2023 draft class: tight end Sam LaPorta and safety Brian Branch. Lions general manager Brad Holmes has already publicly stated his desire to extend both players, though Dan Campbell indicated that the franchise may want to evaluate Branch’s recovery from a torn Achilles before committing to an extension.
“I think you always want to be certain that your players are fully healthy and that the injury is completely mended,” Campbell noted. “It is natural to lean toward caution given the significant financial commitment that such an extension represents.”
