Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs is already on track to becoming one of the Lions' most important pieces on offense. Gibbs, who finished up his 2024 season tied for first in the league for most rushing touchdowns scored and who did an admirable job of carrying the load in the Lions' run attack with David Montgomery out, is a dark horse MVP candidate.
According to Lions team reporter Tim Twentyman, Gibbs is also being heavily challenged in OTAs by Detroit's running backs coach, Tashard Choice. Choice told Twentyman that Gibbs will be pushed by him because he simply has no other choice than to see how much higher the running back can reach.
"For him, the sky is the limit. I'm going to push him. I'm going to push him like no other. I have to. Having the chance to watch (Gibbs) from afar for these last three years, and every single week because of (Lions defensive coordinator and close friend Kelvin Sheppard) Shep and because of Jah, I kept wanting to watch the Lions' games," said Choice.
He added, "To see him progress, to see how smart he is — I tell him he's one of the smartest running backs I've ever coached. He's just a natural football player ... so having an opportunity to get around him now coaching, I'm going to be harder on him even more."
Gibbs is being challenged in OTAs early
Gibbs is probably the last player you'd think Lions coaches are looking to push in the offseason, but he's bene cropping up often on head coach Dan Campbell's list of players already impressing him in OTAs. He's also been showing up consistently in pieces on players who have yet to even touch their maximized potential.
Twentyman added in his piece, "Choice has known Gibbs dating back to Gibbs' high school days at Dalton High School in Georgia. He's been around him, coached him and he's convinced Gibbs can be even better and plans to push him hard to reach that lofty potential." That lofty potential being Gibbs just being consistently the best running back in the NFL.
The Sonic of the Lions' Sonic and Knuckles duo should be able to make up for the major loss of offensive linemen Frank Ragnow if he can produce at an even higher, and more consistent, clip than he has been in seasons past.
