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NFL Network: Lions signing RB Jahmyr Gibbs to three-year contract worth up to $75.75 million | Latest NFL News, Analysis & Updates | NFL.com

Jahmyr Gibbs has signed a three-year contract extension with the Detroit Lions worth up to $75.75 million, making him the highest-paid running back in the league.

First seen Aug 07, 2026 · 1:00 AM UTC · last updated Aug 07 4:00 PM

Scoring Zone's Take

Gibbs' three-year, $75.75 million extension is about as strong a vote of confidence as a running back can get, and it locks him in as Detroit's clear centerpiece back for the foreseeable future. For draft prep purposes, this removes any long-term uncertainty about his role — the Lions just made him the highest-paid RB in the league, so expect him to keep operating as the lead dog in what has been one of the league's most efficient offenses. Draft him as a legitimate RB1 with both immediate and multi-year value; there's no hedging needed here since the deal is confirmed and fully guaranteed in structure terms.

The bigger question for your draft board is what this means for David Montgomery. Nothing in the reporting suggests Montgomery's role is shrinking beyond what was already expected — he simply showed up in the story congratulating Gibbs, which is a goodwill note, not a snap-share signal. Still, a mega-extension for the timeshare partner is a soft reminder that Gibbs is the long-term priority in Detroit's backfield, and that typically correlates with the lead back seeing more high-value touches (receiving work, red zone snaps) over time. Treat Montgomery as a solid complementary piece with touchdown upside in a good offense, but draft him with the assumption that Gibbs is the engine of this backfield now and going forward, not a committee equal.

Bottom line: Gibbs is a high-confidence RB1 target given the financial commitment; Montgomery remains a flex/RB2-caliber piece whose ceiling is capped by playing alongside a now richly paid lead back.

NFL Network: Lions signing RB Jahmyr Gibbs to three-year contract worth up to $75.75 million

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs agrees to a three-year $67.5 million contract extension.

Sonic has cashed in.

The Detroit Lions are signing running back Jahmyr Gibbs to a three-year extension for $67.5 million worth up to $75.75 million, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday. The deal, which makes him the highest-paid running back in the league, includes $51.5 million guaranteed, per Rapoport and Schefter.

Detroit announced Gibbs' extension through the 2030 season on Friday.

Gibbs' deal, sitting at $22.5 million per year, resets the running back market once again, topping Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson, who signed a deal worth $22.25 million APY on Aug. 4. The Indianapolis Colts' Jonathan Taylor also inked a contract with an annual salary of $22 million on Thursday, as the three running backs collectively helped boost the salary ceiling for the position over the past few days.

The agreement to a long-term pact should spell the end to Gibbs' hold-in. Although head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged the star running back was dealing with a "bit of a back" issue as Gibbs missed practices to start training camp, it also made sense for Gibbs to report but protect himself until a new contract came to fruition.

Gibbs did notably don a uniform Thursday for the first time this preseason and participated in limited fashion on the side field, per local reporters. That came before the sides agreed to an extension, so he should presumably ramp up in short order.

With business out of the way, Gibbs and the Lions have a pivotal year to prepare for in the Motor City. Gibbs is set to partake in his first campaign sans running mate David Montgomery, while the Lions look to bounce back from a disappointing 9-8 season that saw them miss the playoffs after two straight postseason runs.

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When Gibbs joined Detroit as the 12th overall pick in the 2023 draft, his price tag was scoffed at by some around the league. A team seen as on the rise presumably had more pressing needs after already signing Montgomery a few months prior.

The Lions proved such thinking dead wrong in short order. Gibbs and Montgomery quickly became the league's most-feared backfield duo for a club that went on to capture two straight NFC North titles. With Montgomery bashing away at opposing fronts, Gibbs dashed through and around them with ease, compiling 1,261 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie. He showed he could hold down the backfield alone in Year 2 when Montgomery missed time down the stretch. Gibbs finished the 2024 campaign with a career-high 1,929 scrimmage yards and 20 TDs.

Gibbs then naturally chipped away at Montgomery's workload last season, becoming Detroit's go-to as an offense that struggled with consistency became increasingly reliant on Gibbs' ability to create his own space. He finished with 1,839 yards from scrimmage and another 18 scores.

Through his first three years, Gibbs has made three Pro Bowls, hauled in 50-plus receptions in each campaign, averaged a marvelous 5.3 yards per carry and found the end zone 49 times to break Lions legend Barry Sanders' record for the most scrimmage scores before turning 24 years old. The Lions, in turn, have never finished worse than fifth in scoring while rostering Gibbs.

As prolific as his partnership with Montgomery was, Gibbs' heroics allowed Detroit to trade the elder RB to the Houston Texans in March. Gibbs now stands alone in the Lions' backfield, supplemented by free-agent signee Isiah Pacheco but likely to take on his largest backfield responsibility he's had to date.

The Lions are paying him handsomely at an oft-undervalued position to do so, showing complete confidence in one of the NFL's most electric talents.

Coverage from Nfl Dot Com News · by Bobby Kownack · Aug 06, 2026 · read original