Jahmyr Gibbs is now the highest-paid running back in NFL history, agreeing to a three-year, $67.5 million extension with the Detroit Lions that includes $51.5 million guaranteed. The deal, which averages $22.5 million per season and can reach a maximum value of $75.75 million with incentives, ends a training camp standoff and locks in the 24-year-old as the centerpiece of Detroit's backfield for years to come.
Gibbs' new money kicks in starting in the 2028 season and runs through 2030, building on the final year of his rookie contract in 2026 and a fifth-year option in 2027, according to Detroit Football Network. NFL Insider Adam Schefter first reported the agreement on X, and Ian Rapoport followed by reporting that Gibbs' deal carries the highest average annual value and largest guarantee ever given to a running back, per ClickOnDetroit. Gibbs' agent, Todd France, confirmed the terms of the contract.
A Running Back Market Reset In Just Three Days
Gibbs' extension arrived at the tail end of a stunning three-day sprint that redefined running back economics. Atlanta's Bijan Robinson signed a three-year, $66.75 million extension worth $22.25 million per year on August 4, and Indianapolis's Jonathan Taylor followed with a two-year, $44 million deal averaging $22 million annually, as reported by Fox Sports. Detroit then topped both figures with Gibbs, whose deal surpassed the previous benchmark set by Saquon Barkley's contract, which averaged $20.6 million per season. Running back extension averages had previously remained under $21 million per year before this stretch, per the same Fox Sports report.
The timing traces back to a roster shift Detroit made in the offseason. In March, the Lions traded running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans in exchange for interior offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a 2026 fourth-round pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick, according to NFL.com. That trade ended the Montgomery-Gibbs committee that had defined Detroit's ground game and cemented Gibbs as the clear feature back heading into 2026.
From Draft Pick To Franchise Cornerstone
Detroit selected Gibbs 12th overall out of Alabama in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he wasted little time becoming central to the offense. Across his first three NFL seasons, Gibbs logged 3,580 rushing yards and 39 rushing touchdowns to go with 1,449 receiving yards and 10 receiving touchdowns over 49 regular-season games, per Sportsnet. He led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024 while amassing 1,929 scrimmage yards and 20 total touchdowns, and followed that with 1,839 scrimmage yards and 18 total touchdowns on 737 snaps in 2025, according to the same Detroit Football Network report cited earlier. In 2025 alone, Gibbs rushed for 1,223 yards with 13 rushing touchdowns, added 616 receiving yards on 77 receptions, and scored five receiving touchdowns, per ClickOnDetroit.
One performance stands out among Gibbs' body of work. In a 34-27 overtime win over the New York Giants in November 2025, Gibbs rushed for a career-high 219 yards on 14.6 yards per carry with two touchdowns, while adding 11 receptions for 45 yards and a score, according to Tide 100.9. The three-time Pro Bowl selection has used his speed, receiving ability and versatility to create mismatches for opposing defenses, per ClickOnDetroit.
Locker Room Reaction As Gibbs Returns To The Field
Gibbs conducted a hold-in during the opening week of Lions training camp, attending team meetings and side-field conditioning workouts while sitting out full-team practice drills until the contract was finalized, per NFL Network. He returned to the practice field this week, and All-Pro linebacker Jack Campbell called him electric upon his return, noting that defending Gibbs one-on-one in pass coverage routes makes practice sessions significantly harder, according to CBS News. Campbell and Gibbs were both first-round picks in Detroit's 2023 draft class.
Fitting Into Holmes' Draft-And-Extend Strategy
Gibbs' extension fits a clear pattern established by Lions General Manager Brad Holmes, who has prioritized extending core draft picks at top-of-market value. That list already includes Aidan Hutchinson at $180 million, Amon-Ra St. Brown at $120.01 million, Penei Sewell at $112 million, Jameson Williams at $80 million, and Jack Campbell at $81 million, per NBC Sports. Detroit's willingness to keep resetting the market for its own players underscores how the front office views its 2023 draft class as the foundation of the roster.
The deal comes as Detroit tries to bounce back from a 9-8 finish in 2025 that ended the team's playoff streak after back-to-back postseason appearances in 2023 and 2024, according to NFL Network. Detroit had established itself as a consistent playoff contender and won its first division title in 30 years during that 2023 season. Keeping Gibbs under contract preserves one of Detroit's most important offensive weapons as the Lions try to rebuild momentum in a crucial 2026 campaign.
