Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes acknowledged Thursday that the team may explore trade possibilities involving running back David Montgomery as it evaluates the future of its backfield. With Jahmyr Gibbs emerging as the clear lead back, Holmes said the organization owes Montgomery an honest assessment of where his skill set can be best utilized moving forward.
Holmes emphasized his respect for Montgomery and noted that any discussions would be centered on what is best for the veteran running back. While the Lions would prefer to keep him in Detroit, Holmes said the team must remain open to alternatives if Montgomery’s role cannot expand in a meaningful way. The comments were first reported by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Gibbs assumed the starting role in 2026 and started all 17 games, producing 1,223 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 243 carries. Montgomery’s workload declined significantly, as he logged 158 carries for 716 yards and eight scores, marking career lows in rushing attempts and yards. The snap count disparity was also notable, with Gibbs playing 713 snaps compared to Montgomery’s 395 during the 2025 season.
Despite the uneven usage, the pairing remained among the league’s most productive duos. Gibbs and Montgomery were one of only two running back tandems in 2025 to each record at least 700 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, joining the Rams’ Kyren Williams and Blake Corum in that category. Still, several factors contributed to Montgomery’s reduced role, including a strategic shift to feature Gibbs, overall offensive regression, and offensive line struggles that limited opportunities for a power running style.
Montgomery’s involvement declined sharply late in the season. Over the final eight games, he reached double-digit carries just once after doing so seven times in the first nine contests. He recorded only one 75-yard rushing performance after Week 3, a stark contrast to his five such games in 2024. While Montgomery did not publicly express frustration, Birkett reported that he was dissatisfied internally with his limited usage.
Contract considerations also loom large in any decision. Montgomery signed a two-year extension in 2024 and has two seasons remaining, including a $5.49 million base salary in 2026. A trade would leave the acquiring team with a $6 million cap charge, while releasing him would saddle Detroit with $4.9 million in dead money. Holmes reiterated his desire to retain Montgomery but acknowledged that, should the Lions move on, they would need to identify a power complement to Gibbs, as no other running back on the roster logged more than three carries in 2025.
