Detroit Lions running backs David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs have formed one of the most formidable backfield tandems in the NFL, and Montgomery credits their “selfless” approach as the key to their success.
In an interview with NFL Network, Montgomery praised his partnership with Gibbs, saying they are “definitely the best running back duo in the league.” The two backs have complemented each other perfectly, with Montgomery serving as the workhorse and Gibbs providing a change of pace and big-play ability.
“That’s my dog,” Montgomery said of Gibbs. “You’ve gotta be in a position — a mental headspace — to be appreciative of somebody else’s success… We’re all competitors, we all want to play ball and we all want to be the guy but sometimes you’ve gotta be selfless for the greater good of the team.”
The duo’s 32 combined scrimmage touchdowns led all NFL backfields last season, and Gibbs himself finished the year with a league-high 20 total touchdowns. Montgomery was the primary starter for most of the year, but Gibbs saw significant playing time as well, with the two splitting carries evenly in many games.
“When it’s all said and done, when we’re done playing together, we’ll be the best running back duo to ever play together,” Montgomery said.
The Lions’ rushing attack has been a key component of their offensive success over the past couple of seasons, and Montgomery and Gibbs have been at the heart of it. With both players under contract for the foreseeable future, the Lions’ dynamic duo is poised to continue terrorizing defenses for years to come.
“Coach Campbell and Brad [Holmes] do a great job of putting guys around us and in our culture so that we all can benefit,” Montgomery said. “I’m excited for it.”
