Dan Campbell goes all-in with Hall of Famer comps for David Montgomery

Over about a season-and-a-half as a Detroit Lion, David Montgomery has been everything it was hoped he'd be-and probably more. After rushing for 13 touchdowns last season, he already has 10 rushing scores in 10 games this season. He is the perfect "Thunder" to Jahmyr Gibbs' "Lightning", or the perfect "Knuckles" to Gibbs' "Sonic" if we're being true to the updated vernacular to describe the Lions' backfield tandem.

On Wednesday, head coach Dan Campbell was asked about Montgomery and Gibbs within the vein of what he saw with Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram when was an assistant coach with the New Orleans Saints. He said the two are "like brothers", elevating each other on the field and sharing a close bond off the field.

Montgomery has won two "Angry Runs" scepters from "Good Morning Football's" Kyle Brandt, in Week 4 and Week 6, with a third coming in Week 1 for the closing drive against the Los Angeles Rams where Montgomery played the leading role.

Dan Campbell goes all-in to call David Campbell a throwback runner

Montgomery's 15 broken tackles as a runner and 23 broken tackles overall (according to Pro Football Reference) are among the best in the league among running backs this season. The first tackler rarely brings him down, and one guy rarely brings him down.

Campbell was asked if Montgomery's running style is reminiscent of anyone he's seen.

"Man, to me, he's a throwback," Campbell said. "There are throwback principles about him, and I mean that with all due respect. His running style is – it's rare."

"When I watch him, it just reminds me of some of the great ones, man, back in the heyday", Campbell continued. "I mean, they just – they don't go down. So, freaking Earl Campbell, man, Earl Campbell ran like crazy, Walter Payton ran like crazy and would not go down."

Payton retired as the NFL's all-time leading rusher in 1987 (16,726 yards), and he's still second. Campbell led the league in rushing three times and topped 1,300 yards five times in his eight NFL seasons. If you're making a list of the most physical runners in league history, it starts with Payton and Campbell-in no particular order.

Montgomery career accolades aren't on the level of Payton and Campbell, but his head coach has now put images of those guys in your head and/or inspired you to go down a YouTube rabbit hole to find runs by Payton and Campbell.