Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery are optimistic about the Detroit Lions’ prospects for the 2025 season, despite a disappointing playoff finish in 2024. The team, however, boasts one of the NFL’s top running back duos, with Gibbs coming off a standout Pro Bowl year in which he rushed for 1,412 yards and scored 16 touchdowns, while also leading the league with 20 total touchdowns. Montgomery, despite missing three games due to an MCL injury, had another solid season with 12 touchdowns.
Montgomery believes their success comes from balancing each other out. “The best ability is availability,” Montgomery said, emphasizing how their partnership helps reduce the physical toll on their bodies. The duo, affectionately known as “Sonic and Knuckles” by head coach Dan Campbell, combines Gibbs’ speed with Montgomery’s power, accumulating a total of 1,960 rushing yards in 2023, the most of any running back tandem in the league.
While many teams rely on a committee approach to keep their running backs fresh, Montgomery sees the Lions’ duo as a model for success, one that other teams are now trying to replicate. Gibbs added that their fun personalities and strong bond off the field also help make their pairing effective, creating a naturally attractive dynamic.
Though the Lions have fallen short in the playoffs the last two years—losing the NFC Championship Game in 2023 after a devastating 17-point halftime lead collapse and being eliminated in the divisional round in 2024 despite a 15-2 regular season—Gibbs and Montgomery are hopeful for future success. Gibbs attributes the team’s struggles to injuries, like the absence of Pro Bowler Aidan Hutchinson, and believes staying healthy is crucial for the Lions’ success in 2025. Montgomery, on the other hand, points to the need for better execution in critical moments, especially after a disappointing loss to the Washington Commanders. He believes that with a few more adjustments and continued execution of their game plan, the Lions will be poised to break through.
Both Gibbs and Montgomery are also ambassadors for Bounty’s “Wingman” campaign, which launched in 2023 in collaboration with the NFL. The campaign, which features 76 players, including Gibbs and Montgomery, celebrates teamwork and fun. The duo filmed a commercial highlighting their partnership with Bounty and their shared love for wings, emphasizing how their bond and the brand complement each other perfectly. Montgomery joked, “If you need a mess to be cleaned up, you know who to call,” while Gibbs playfully added, “And you can’t have wings without Bounty.”
