Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs joins NFL elite in Week 1

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs wasted little time adding another impressive accomplishment to an already historic NFL career. After scoring a touchdown in Sunday’s Week 1 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, Gibbs officially joined an exclusive group of players who have reached 50 scrimmage touchdowns within their first 50 career regular-season games.

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The milestone comes just as Gibbs enters his first season as Detroit’s unquestioned lead running back following the offseason trade of David Montgomery.

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Gibbs joins some legendary company

Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) hands off the ball to running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Gibbs entered Week 1 with 49 scrimmage touchdowns through 49 career games, meaning he needed just one score to reach the historic mark. He delivered early, scoring Detroit’s first touchdown of the 2026 season on a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

That made Gibbs just the sixth player in NFL history to record 50 scrimmage touchdowns in his first 50 career games. The players previously in the exclusive group were Jim Brown, Marcus Allen, Chuck Foreman, Larry Johnson and Steve Van Buren.

Gibbs’ ability to contribute both as a runner and receiver has been a major reason for his incredible production since entering the league in 2023. Through his first three seasons, he had already accumulated 3,580 rushing yards, 1,449 receiving yards, and 49 total touchdowns.

The Lions are finally giving Gibbs the keys

Dec 4, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) scores a touchdown during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

The timing of the milestone is particularly interesting because Gibbs is entering a completely different role in Detroit.

For the first three seasons of his career, Gibbs shared the backfield with Montgomery. That changes in 2026 after the Lions traded Montgomery to Houston, leaving Gibbs as the clear centerpiece of the running game. Detroit also rewarded him with a new contract worth $22.5 million per year.

Gibbs already produced at an elite level while splitting touches. In 2025, he rushed for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 616 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.

Now, with the backfield essentially his, the ceiling could be even higher.

At just 24 years old, Gibbs has already joined a group featuring some of the greatest running backs in NFL history. If Week 1 is any indication, he may not be finished rewriting the record book.

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