After a stunning early playoff exit, the Detroit Lions are looking to bounce back in 2025, and Jahmyr Gibbs is making it clear — next season is all about the team. Despite finishing as the NFL’s best team in the 2024 regular season, the Lions were eliminated in the Divisional Round, a shocking defeat few — if not any — analysts predicted.
Detroit was favored to reach the NFC Championship Game, but a narrow loss to the Washington Commanders ended their season prematurely. Now, with a young, hungry roster, the Lions are determined to reclaim the NFC’s top spot, and Gibbs is laser-focused on the bigger picture.
Jahmyr Gibbs Will Reunite With a Familiar Coach
“I’m good off the individual stuff — I’m trying to win a Super Bowl,” Gibbs said in a one-on-one interview with RG on behalf of Bounty when asked about his goals for next season.
The Lions are adding a key coaching piece for their backfield. Tashard Choice, the former Texas Longhorns running backs coach, has been hired to lead Detroit’s running backs unit.
Choice, who previously coached Gibbs at Georgia Tech (2020-21), had recently interviewed for the Dallas Cowboys’ RB coach job but ultimately landed in Detroit instead.
His familiarity with Gibbs provides him an immediate boost for a backfield already performing great. In fact, Gibbs and David Montgomery became the first RB duo in NFL history to each record 10+ rushing touchdowns in consecutive seasons.
Montgomery took to the Super Bowl’s Radio Row in New Orleans, speaking with Fansided analyst Iain McMillan. He had some kind words to describe Gibbs.
“I would say how he accepts coaching. He’s obviously super talented and a dog already, but somebody of his magnitude of abilities typically doesn’t listen. Or they feel like they know everything,” Montgomery said of Gibbs.
“But Jahmyr, he’s very good at taking in coaching and asking if there are things he can do better,” Montgomery finished.
That speaks volumes for Gibbs, who is a top running back in the league right now. It’s always great to see players humble despite already being elite. The desire to always excel paid off well for Gibbs this season. He’ll look to capitalize on his relationship with Montgomery in the 2025 season.
Gibbs delivered a great performance in the 2024 season averaging 6.4 yards per touch, the highest by any player with 300+ touches in a season since Marshall Faulk in 2000 (6.6).
He totaled 1,412 rushing yards and 517 receiving yards, fumbling just once in the regular season and only three times in his entire career. He recorded 20 touchdowns during the regular season — 16 rushing and four receiving.
Detroit Had the NFL’s No. 1-Ranked Offense In 2024
With Gibbs and Montgomery leading the way, the Lions had the top-ranked offense in the NFL according to PFSN’s Offense+ metric.
Here’s what PFSN’s Ben Rolfe wrote about Detroit’s well-rounded offensive attack: “What they’ve put on paper is close to impossible, as Detroit owns the top offense in the sport in pass success rate and third-best in rush success rate.
“Jared Goff has put on a masterclass in efficiency all season long, sans the five-interception game against the Houston Texans, and Jahmyr Gibbs has taken that next step into superstardom.”
While Gibbs and Montgomery played a huge role in the Lions’ ranking, Goff was also terrific throughout the 2024 campaign, finishing as the No. 2-ranked quarterback in PFSN’s QB+ metric.
He was second this year in both overall EPA/DB (0.27) and from a clean pocket (0.50 EPA/DB). Goff had also been superb in clutch situations and on third down this season. He finished the year with a 45% third-down conversion rate, which ranked fourth among QBs. He was also ranked second in nYPA (8.2) and completion rate (72.4%) while finishing eighth in TD/INT rate (3.1).
The Lions’ offense led the team to a 15-2 record despite a litany of injuries on defense. Unfortunately, Goff struggled against the Commanders in the Divisional Round and, with so many injuries on defense and a pick-six in the mix, the Lions were ultimately upset by Jayden Daniels and Co.
Now, the Lions will be determined to get that bad taste out of their mouth. They are stacked with young talent, and Gibbs is just starting to realize his tremendous potential. Detroit is setting its sights on something bigger in 2025: a trip to the Super Bowl.
