Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs is quickly approaching a milestone that places him alongside one of the greatest players in franchise — and NFL — history.
At just 23 years old, Gibbs added three more touchdowns to his season tally on Sunday, bringing his career total to 41. That number puts him within striking distance of a remarkable record once set by Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.
Sanders, one of the most electrifying rushers in league history, found the end zone 47 times before turning 24, the most by any player in NFL history at that age. Gibbs, who doesn’t celebrate his 24th birthday until March, still has several games left this season to score seven more touchdowns and surpass Sanders’ long-standing mark.
Since entering the league in 2023, Gibbs has been a consistent scoring threat. In fact, his 41 total touchdowns are the most by any NFL player during that span — an impressive feat for such a young back.
With just one touchdown in Sunday night’s matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Gibbs would tie Jim Brown for fourth place on the all-time list of players with the most touchdowns before age 24. The next targets in his sights are Randy Moss and Emmitt Smith, who both tallied 43 touchdowns before hitting that age milestone.
If Gibbs continues at his current pace, he could soon find himself in elite company — and potentially surpass Barry Sanders, the legendary Lions icon whose name still defines greatness in Detroit. For Gibbs, being mentioned alongside Sanders isn’t just an honor — it’s a sign of how special his young career has already become.
