Jahmyr Gibbs is suddenly staring at a bigger stage in Detroit, and that’s exactly why his name is starting to pop up in an MVP conversation that usually belongs to quarterbacks.
The offseason trade of David Montgomery opened the door for Gibbs to step into the Dan Campbell-described “bell cow” role in the Lions’ offense. The contract Gibbs just signed only reinforces the idea that Detroit plans to lean on him heavily, and he looks primed for a true workhorse workload.
That possibility got another boost from Campbell’s latest comments. The Lions coach said he’s comfortable with Jacob Saylors as Gibbs’ primary backup if Isiah Pacheco is unavailable for Week 1 or longer.
But being fine with Saylors as the No. 2 back and actually giving him meaningful work are two different things. If anything, that setup would push even more touches Gibbs’ way.
That’s the kind of setup that has people wondering whether Gibbs could do something no non-quarterback has done in more than a decade.
NFL MVP has become the league’s quarterback award in practice, and the last non-quarterback to win it was Adrian Peterson in 2012. In a “Fact or Fiction” column with the 2026 season approaching, Gilberto Manzano of SI.com asked whether Gibbs could be the player to snap that streak.
Manzano labeled it “fact” and laid out the case in strong terms.
“It’s kinda funny how little coach Dan Campbell cares about the backup running back situation after spending the offseason raving about Gibbs.”
“Campbell should be somewhat worried about Isiah Pacheco possibly not being available for the start of the season due to injury, but when you have a healthy Gibbs, there’s really no point in stressing about the position, even knowing that Jacob Saylors, who only has two career carries, is in line to be the backup running back for next week’s season opener against the Saints.”
“With how much Campbell has hyped up Gibbs’s first season without splitting carries with David Montgomery, who’s now in Houston, there’s a real possibility Gibbs plays more than 80% of the offensive snaps this season. Last year, Gibbs saw a career-high 67% of the snaps and was on the field less than 60% of the time during his first two seasons. It’s wild how efficient he’s been in his career despite the limited work (at least 1,800 scrimmage yards in each of the past two seasons), and it makes you wonder whether he’s about to deliver a historic season.”
“I’ll be bold here and say Gibbs ends the 13-year streak of a quarterback winning MVP and becomes the first running to claim the prestigious award since Adrian Peterson in 2012. But he’s going to have to produce a historic season because just rushing for 2,000 yards is no longer enough to win the award-just ask Saquon Barkley, who did it in 2024 and finished third for MVP.”
The betting market still sees a long road ahead. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Gibbs has the 20th-best odds to win MVP at +4500, and the first 19 names on the board are all quarterbacks. Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is next after Gibbs at +6000.
So yes, it would take something special. Maybe something historic. But if Gibbs’ efficiency carries over with a much bigger role, and he stays healthy, the path is there for a season that forces the league to pay attention.
In Other News...
Lions Add To Crowded O Line Picture With Another Intriguing Move
The Lions kept adding to an already busy offensive line mix by signing former Buccaneers lineman Elijah Klein to the practice squad. A sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Klein has already appeared in 26 games with one start, giving Detroit another young blocker with some pro experience to evaluate as the roster takes shape.
Detroit has plenty of offensive linemen around the building between the active roster and the practice squad, so this is less about a clear immediate role and more about creating competition and depth. For Klein, the next step will be figuring out where he fits in a group that is already crowded, which makes his path with the Lions worth watching as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Already Have A New Reason To Feel Great About Blake Miller
The Lions went into the preseason looking to sort out the right side of their offensive line, and Blake Miller has wasted little time making the decision easy. Detroit took the tackle with the No. 17 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, then watched him work his way into the starting right tackle job by outplaying veteran Larry Borom and earning steady praise from the coaching staff and the media.
Miller has looked comfortable in both phases of the game, showing the kind of power in the run game and reliability in pass protection that can settle an offense quickly. For a team that values stability up front, it is an encouraging early sign that the rookie is not just holding his own, but pushing the Lions to feel better about a spot they needed to get right. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Branch Could Give Lions Defense A Huge Early Lift
Brian Branchs arrival on the sideline this fall is still expected to come with a delay, but the Lions have reason to believe the wait wont be a long one. The versatile defensive back is slated to open the 2026 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list after the Achilles injury he suffered in December 2025, a setback that would normally cloud a players early-season availability much more heavily than this one appears to.
Branchs recovery has reportedly been moving in the right direction, and there is already a sense he could be back at practice after only two weeks on PUP. If that timetable holds, Detroit could be talking about getting one of its most valuable defensive pieces back by Week 6 or Week 7, a boost that would matter even more given how much the unit leans on his range and flexibility compared with the situation around Kerby Joseph. [Read more 🡒]