After firing John Morton on Tuesday, the Lions are on the hunt for a new offensive coordinator. Commanders assistant quarterbacks coach (and former Lions QB) David Blough and ex-Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel have emerged as early candidates. Regardless of who lands the job, it doesn’t appear running back David Montgomery is a lock to remain among the Lions’ offensive weapons in 2026.
The 28-year-old Montgomery took on a lesser role this season, his third in Detroit. It could go down as his last in a Lions uniform. Asked about Montgomery’s future on Thursday, general manager Brad Holmes didn’t rule out an offseason trade.
“Those are discussions that we’re going to have to have a lot more in depth in terms of what is the best plan for him going forward,” Holmes said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “Is it somewhere else or whatever the case be.”
Montgomery, a 2019 third-round pick from Iowa State, spent his first four NFL seasons with the NFC North rival Bears. The Lions brought him in on a three-year, $18MM contract in March 2023.
Montgomery’s presence didn’t stop the Lions from using a first-rounder on fellow running back Jahmyr Gibbs a month and a half later. Both moves have worked out brilliantly for Detroit. The two RBs (aka “Sonic” and “Knuckles”) have formed one of the league’s top tandems during their three years together.
The electric Gibbs has established himself as the Lions’ lead back, but Montgomery has still seen plenty of action. With Ben Johnson running the offense during Montgomery’s first two years as a Lion, the 5-foot-11, 230-pounder combined for 28 games and averaged 202 carries, 908 yards and about 13 rushing touchdowns per season.
Although Montgomery posted his first career 17-game campaign in 2025, his playing time diminished with Morton and then head coach Dan Campbell calling plays. Despite recording a 4.5 YPC, Montgomery amassed single-season lows in carries (158) and yards (716). He found the end zone eight times on the ground, but that was still a four-TD drop from his 2024 output.
“He deserves to be in a situation where his skill set can be utilized,” Holmes said. “And so yeah, would love it for it to be here, but if it can’t be here, then you would have to just see what you can work out the best for him.”
Holmes isn’t under any immediate pressure to make a decision on Montgomery, who has two years left on his second Lions contract. The team awarded Montgomery a three-year, $18.25MM extension with $10.5MM in guarantees in October 2024. Montgomery’s due to count approximately $8.37MM against the Lions’ salary cap in 2026. Trading or releasing him before June 1 would leave the Lions with around $4.86MM in dead money. It would also create another hole on the roster.
Gibbs is one of the league’s premier backs, but subtracting Montgomery would leave the Lions perilously thin at the position. Quarterback Jared Goff‘s 19 rushing attempts ranked third on the team in 2025, meaning Holmes will have to find a capable replacement for Montgomery if he goes in another direction.
Don’t think the problems start with a DM.
Unless you’re Brett Favre of course.
what is that even a reference to?
Seriously? Sending his D pic in a direct message (DM) to the then trainer/massage therapist.
@16- Considering they were text messages and voicemails, not DMs, I can see where Darthdragula’s confusion was.
Splitting hairs here. I’ll just say the D is for Dic.
Happy?
I’m actually appreciated the original joke, I just thought 16’s passive aggressiveness about someone not understanding it was unnecessary.
They still tied for the 4th best scoring offense in the league, maybe invest your top draft picks on the “other” side of the ball that allowed over 400 points
Which side could you be referring to? The one that kept its coordinator?
That’s really not fair considering their most important defensive players not named Hutchinson were injured for most of the season.
I’d always be reluctant to part with a productive RB that offers the added bonus of strong ball security. I think Monty checks both those boxes.
If the Lions even sniff at hiring Mike McDaniel, I hope they impose a game day sideline dress code on him.
Well, no matter how an NFL coach dresses, as soon as he holds those side line sheets in his hand he comes off looking like a bus boy studying the menu specials. Tom Landry knew how a coach should present himself on the side lines. Confident, smart looking suit and no dopey props trying to impress people that he was some kind of tactical genius.
Who cares what he wears as long as he’s a good coordinator.
Texans?
If your offense is schemed correctly and you have an ace at Rb1 you don’t need to spend 10 million on your RB2. There will be plenty of cheaper options and late draft picks than can do the work for a lot less cap money.
Nonsense. Montgomery is elite at what he does. Good luck replacing that.
Who said he wasn’t elite? It’s about cap and resource allocation. You want Gibbs getting majority of touches, there is no sense paying a 30% touch guy 10+ million. But that’s just me
Again, this is complete nonsense.
Gibbs is only at his most effective when Montgomery is sharing the load. He’s a smaller back who needs somebody softening up the defense.
There absolutely is sense in it when that guy is what makes your offense balanced and effective.
And you’re the one who claimed there would be plenty of cheaper options who can “do the work”, except there aren’t. Montgomery splits carries and still gets at least 700 rushing yards every season. He’s an excellent blocker, a solid receiver out of the backfield, and still one of the best big backs in the league. That’s borderline impossible to find most years let alone find many options as you claim.
Absolutely. And after $2.5 million of dead money, Montgomery costs $7.7 million. If the Lions feel they can replace Montgomery for the same or better at $3 or $4 million maybe. But cutting or trading Montgomery sends a signal to the rest of the players which is that hard steady work is not valued in Detroit.
The only way cutting/trading Montgomery makes sense is if the Lions are prepared to invest a third or fourth round pick replacing him.
Not to mention it completely ignores the fact that Montgomery was a #1 back who Chicago didn’t value and who only fell in the draft because of his slow 40 time. There’s no way anybody who watched him at Iowa State could think he was anything other than a future star and feature back.
The Lions were extremely lucky to get him. Guys like that are very very rarely available in free agency and many players who get drafted with the assumption they’ll be like him don’t turn out that way.
Maybe you get lucky and find somebody who was underused by their previous team and goes on to be a feature back for you but almost never do you get a true feature back with size in his prime as a free agent signing.