Running back Jamhyr Gibbs has the most touchdowns (49) a player has ever logged through three-career seasons in NFL history. Those are also the most touchdowns a player has had before turning 24 years old.
Gibbs is the first player in Lions history to produce at least 1,800 scrimmage yards and 18 total touchdowns in back-to-back seasons, doing so in each of Detroit's last two seasons.
The fourth-year running back out of Alabama and three-time Pro Bowler has become a superstar in this league in a very short timeframe. Lions head coach Dan Campbell thinks Gibbs is just starting to scratch the surface of his overall potential.
"We're not even there yet," Campbell said at least week's Annual League Meetings when talking about Gibbs. "We feel like this guy can play some receiver. We tried to tinker with some stuff last year. He really grew but I think we're just scratching the surface of some of that."
After catching 52 passes in each of his first two seasons in the NFL, Gibbs recorded a new career-high 77 receptions last season for a career-best 616 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. Only Christian McCaffrey (102) and Bijan Robinson (79) had more receptions among NFL running backs last season.
Campbell has praised new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and his ability to create and expose mismatches within his scheme. Gibbs has the potential to be a mismatch nightmare for defenses both as a runner and receiver in Petzing's offense in 2026. The Lions threw the ball to Gibbs a lot out of the backfield last season, and he played 45 reps in the slot and 26 out wide as a receiver.
"He's a mismatch piece, man. He's dynamic and he's a difference maker," Campbell said. "They don't come around often."
Gibbs was credited by Pro Football Reference for having just four drops last season on 94 passes thrown his way. That's an area he's worked hard on since joining the league as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Robinson was selected No. 8 overall in that 2023 draft class as he and Gibbs were the only running backs taken in the first round that year. For at least the last decade or so there's been a stigma about using first-round draft capital on a running back. Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love is the top back in this year's class and has drawn comparisons to Robinson and Gibbs with his speed, production and versatility.
View photos of NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's updated ranking of his Top 50 prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
No. 1 QB Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
No. 2 RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
No. 3 LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State
No. 4 EDGE David Bailey, Texas Tech
No. 5 EDGE Arvell Reese, Ohio State
No. 6 WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State
No. 7 EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
No. 8 CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
No. 9 S Caleb Downs, Ohio State
No. 10 OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami
No. 11 OL Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State
No. 12 WR Makai Lemon, USC
No. 13 OL Spencer Fano, Utah
No. 14 TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
No. 15 CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee
No. 16 S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
No. 17 S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon
No. 18 WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana
No. 19 OT Blake Miller, Clemson
No. 20 OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia
No. 21 WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
No. 22 OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
No. 23 EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami
No. 24 EDGE T.J. Parker, Clemson
No. 25 CB Colton Hood, Tennessee
No. 26 OT Caleb Lomu, Utah
No. 27 WR Denzel Boston, Washington
No. 28 EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
No. 29 WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M
No. 30 LB CJ Allen, Georgia
No. 31 EDGE Keldric Faulk, Auburn
No. 32 LB Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
No. 33 DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
No. 34 CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson
No. 35 OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
No. 36 DT Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
No. 37 DT Peter Woods, Clemson
No. 38 QB Ty Simpson, Alabama
No. 39 RB Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
No. 40 CB Chris Johnson, San Diego State
No. 41 LB Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
No. 42 DT Caleb Banks, Florida
No. 43 CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
No. 44 CB Keionte Scott, Miami
No. 45 EDGE Zion Young, Missouri
No. 46 EDGE Malachi Lawrence. UCF
No. 47 OL Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech
No. 48 WR Antonio Williams, Clemson
No. 49 EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma
No. 50 WR Germie Bernard, Alabama
"We didn't view Gibbs as a runner," Campbell said. "He was a weapon. A little bit like (Jameson Williams) Jamo, we didn't necessarily view Jamo as a true receiver, we saw weaponry. A lot of versatility in things you can do.
"We felt like Gibbs, man, this guy is going to explode. Yes, he's a runner. He can run all schemes – inside, outside, pin and pull, all the perimeters. But he also can be lethal out of the backfield."
That's certainly come to fruition over the last three seasons. And now with David Montgomery being traded to Houston this offseason, Gibbs is the unquestioned No. 1 in Detroit's backfield with veterans Isiah Pacheco, Sione Vaki and others in reserve.
The Lions think Gibbs is just starting to hit his prime as a runner and still see room for continued growth as a pass catcher and receiver. That's a pretty scary proposition for the 31 defensive coordinators around the NFL that must figure out a way to contain him along with the plethora of other offensive skill weapons in Detroit.
