Since entering the NFL in 2023, Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has emerged as one of the most exciting players in the league.
While donning the No. 26 jersey, Gibbs has rushed for 2,357 yards and 26 touchdowns in two campaigns with the Lions. With Gibbs paired up with teammate David Montgomery in the backfield, Dan Campbell‘s team has posted a 29-9 record over the past two seasons with an appearance in the 2023 NFC Championship game.
Gibbs however decided to change his No. 26 jersey number this offseason, switching to No. 0. He discussed the number change at his football camp on Saturday.
“26, I hated 26,” Gibbs told ESPN’s Eric Woodyard. “When I got drafted, the only numbers that were available were 26, 33, 35, 40 and stuff like that. So I took 26. As soon as I was able to change it I changed it. I wanted 1, but [Jameson Williams] got 1. 0 was the next best option, right next to it.”
#Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs hosted his camp at Novi HS and spoke to ESPN exclusively about switching his jersey from No. 26 to No. 0. Gibbs said he hated 26, but was scared of rocking 0 at first. “I didn’t want it to look bad. I didn’t want the 0 to be too big or too small,” he said. pic.twitter.com/ZuBw3nTAoA
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) June 21, 2025
Gibbs was the second running back selected in the 2023 NFL Draft (behind Texas‘ Bijan Robinson), going No. 12 overall to the Lions. After spending two seasons at Georgia Tech (2020-21), the Dalton, GA native transferred to Alabama for his final season of college football. On Nick Saban‘s second-to-last team at Alabama, Gibbs rushed for 926 yards and seven touchdowns.
Gibbs reveals that he was ‘scared’ of wearing No. 0
“There’s no special meaning or nothing,” Gibbs said about his new number. “But it looks good. I was scared though, not gonna lie. But then I was playing Madden the other day, the beta, and I looked at it and I was like ‘oh, this is kinda nice.’ I just didn’t want it to look ugly. I didn’t want it to look bad. I didn’t want the 0 to look too big or too small. It looks good though.”
Gibbs was the NFL’s rushing touchdowns co-leader in 2024 (16), sharing the honor with Baltimore’s Derrick Henry and Buffalo’s James Cook. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2023 and is already a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
Gibbs is just Detroit’s fourth ever running back to be named to a Pro Bowl, joining Mel Farr (two-time), Billy Sims (three-time) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (nine-time).
Gibbs and the Detroit Lions kick off the 2025 season on September 7 against the Green Bay Packers. Detroit swept the Packers in two games last season.
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