Lions' Gibbs becomes highest-paid RB in NFL history
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Jahmyr Gibbs signed a three-year, $67.5 million extension with the Lions (up to $75.75M, $51.5M guaranteed) that surpasses Bijan Robinson's three-year, $66.75M deal with the Falcons signed earlier the same week
- Robinson's $22.25M average annual value made him the third RB to clear $20M per year, joining Jonathan Taylor ($22M) and Saquon Barkley ($20.6M)
- Gibbs has 49 career touchdowns through three seasons — the most in NFL history for a player through his first three years, surpassing Barry Sanders' previous mark of 47
- Gibbs finished last season fifth in the league with 1,839 scrimmage yards and second with 18 total touchdowns, posting career highs of 77 receptions and 616 receiving yards
- The Lions traded David Montgomery, who averaged 187 carries per season, to the Houston Texans in March and signed former Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco as his replacement, likely expanding Gibbs' workload
- The Lions finished 9-8 in 2025 and missed the playoffs, then hired Arizona Cardinals OC Drew Petzing to run an offense that Gibbs said he hasn't 'played his best football' yet
Why it matters: Gibbs overtakes Robinson by less than $1M in total value and $500K in AAV, showing the running-back market is resetting in compressed increments rather than leaps. Detroit is banking $67.5M on a 24-year-old who, despite historic production, has never played on a playoff team — and just gutted his backfield tandem.
