The Kansas City Chiefs are staring down a pivotal offseason when it comes to their backfield. With both Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco set to hit free agency, the team faces a big question: Who’s lining up behind Patrick Mahomes next season?
The Chiefs’ run game didn’t exactly light it up this past year. Pacheco showed flashes of his trademark physicality, and Hunt brought veteran savvy, but the overall production was inconsistent. Kansas City leaned heavily on Mahomes and the passing attack, which worked-because, well, it’s Mahomes-but the lack of a reliable ground game added strain to an offense that thrives on balance and rhythm.
So now, the front office is weighing its options. Names like Breece Hall, Travis Etienne, and Kenneth Walker have been floated as potential upgrades, but there’s another intriguing name that’s entered the conversation: David Montgomery.
The Detroit Lions running back might not be the flashiest option out there, but he checks a lot of boxes for what the Chiefs need. He’s a proven scorer, a tough runner, and-perhaps most importantly-affordable. Montgomery is set to cost just $3.5 million next season, a reasonable figure for a veteran who’s still producing at a high level.
Let’s talk fit. Montgomery saw his role shrink in Detroit thanks to the emergence of Jahmyr Gibbs, but that shouldn’t overshadow what he’s accomplished.
Over the past two seasons, he’s racked up more than 700 rushing yards each year and punched in 20 total touchdowns. That’s not just solid production-that’s a guy who knows how to finish drives and move the chains in the red zone.
At 28, Montgomery still has plenty of tread left on the tires, and his physical, downhill style would fit right into the Chiefs’ offensive identity. Some might argue he’s too similar to what they already had in Hunt and Pacheco-more of a bruiser than a burner-but Montgomery brings a level of consistency and vision that could elevate Kansas City’s ground game.
And with Eric Bieniemy back in the building as offensive coordinator, the timing could be perfect. Bieniemy was instrumental in shaping a dynamic run game during his previous stint with the Chiefs, and he also played a key role in developing the Bears’ rushing attack during Montgomery’s early years in Chicago. There’s familiarity there, and that matters.
Bottom line: Montgomery wouldn’t break the bank, he brings proven production, and he fits the Chiefs’ system. If Kansas City is looking for a veteran presence to stabilize the backfield and complement Mahomes, this move makes a lot of sense.
It’s not the flashiest option. But sometimes, the best moves are the ones that quietly make your offense harder to stop. David Montgomery could be that kind of addition.