Lions HC Dan Campbell: Jahmyr Gibbs to Become ‘Bell Cow’ Back in 2026

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell says running back Jahmyr Gibbs is going to be the Lions’ bell cow back.

In the early part of his career, Gibbs and David Montgomery formed a potent tandem backfield that earned them the nickname “Sonic” and “Knuckles,” respectively. But the Lions traded Montgomery to the Houston Texans, and as a result, will have to lean on Gibbs more. Campbell said at OTAs on Thursday that he is confident in Gibbs’s previous success and ability to handle the workload.

“Gibbs is … he’s going to be our bell cow now,” Campbell said at a press conference. “He really became more of that last year. But we’re going to hang our hat on him quite a bit. We’re going to do a lot of things we feel like he does well.”

At 5-foot-9 and 202 pounds with a 4.36-second 40-yard dash, Gibbs was regarded as more of an outside runner and pass catcher in the mold of Alvin Kamara. But Campbell said that he has proven in his career that he can do it all.

“He can run everything that we’ve got,” he said. “He can run every scheme that anybody’s ever run. He’s not just an outside runner. He’s not just a space runner. He can create his own space in the middle.

“And some of his biggest runs have been gap scheme right down the pipe, you know, where he’s had patience and found it and guys blocked it up well. So we’re going to ask a lot of him, just like we do [wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown]. We ask a lot of ‘Saint.’ We’re going to ask a lot of [WR Jameson Williams]. We’re going to ask a lot of [tight end Sam] LaPorta,” he said.

“We’re going to ask a lot of [running back Isaih] Pacheco. There’s a ton of guys. So we expect him to have a big year for us. We’re going to put a lot on his plate in the run and pass game.”

The Lions drafted Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. They paired his speed with free agent acquisition David Montgomery’s strength and contact balance. The backfield tandem quickly earned the nickname “Sonic and Knuckles” after the characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise. Montgomery was the lead back throughout the season; Gibbs started three games when he went down with an injury. In 15 games, Gibbs carried the ball 182 times for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns; he added 52 catches for 316 and a TD.

Gibbs and Montgomery split time more evenly in 2024. When Montgomery went down again with an MCL injury, Gibbs started the final three games of the season and had 100 yards in each. In the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings, he rushed 23 times for 139 yards and three TDs, and added five catches for 31 yards and a score. He finished the season with 250 carries for 1,412 yards and a league-leading 16 TDs; he added 52 receptions for 517 yards and four receiving scores.

Gibbs became the full-time starter in 2025 and saw his role expand, especially in the Lions’ air attack. He rushed 243 times for 1,223 yards and 13 scores: he had career highs in all the receiving categories with 77 catches for 616 yards and five touchdowns. He had two games with more than 200 scrimmage yards, a 200-yard rushing performance, and two games with three total touchdowns.

Gibbs himself treated the increased responsibility as just another day at the office.

“It’s nothing I’m not used to,” he said after practice Thursday. “Growing up, I’ve always been the person that’s always had the most carries and stuff like that. So, I’m not looking at it any differently than any other year.”

Gibbs was also asked how it felt to be without his backfield partner.

“It’s not weird anymore,” he said. “It was weird when we first got back, but now I’m pretty much used to it.”

He did say that he and Montgomery still talk every day.