Jahmyr Gibbs continues to gain national attention heading into his third season in the NFL. The Detroit Lions running back has surged to the No. 3 spot on ESPN’s latest list of top NFL running backs for 2025. The rankings were compiled through votes and insights from coaches, scouts, and front-office personnel across the league.
The former Alabama standout had an explosive 2024 campaign, sharing the backfield with teammate David Montgomery. Gibbs racked up an impressive 1,929 total yards and led the league with 20 touchdowns. His rushing stats were just as eye-popping: 1,412 yards on the ground with 16 touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, one NFC scout described Gibbs’ electrifying speed at 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds as capable of “turning a game on its head” in an instant. Fowler also noted that Gibbs’ 6.4 yards per touch was the highest for any player with at least 250 touches in a season over the last 10 years.
An AFC executive acknowledged concerns about Gibbs’ size but emphasized that his quickness, vision, and playmaking instincts make him one of the toughest matchups in the league.
At just 23 years old, Gibbs has made significant strides in the eyes of analysts. He was ranked No. 8 in ESPN’s running back list last year and has also appeared in several other offseason rankings. Notably, CBS Sports ranked him No. 32 in their Top 100 NFL players and No. 6 in their Top 25 Under 25 list, moving up 19 places from the previous year.
Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles topped ESPN’s running back rankings. Meanwhile, Gibbs’ backfield partner Montgomery and ex-Lions rusher D’Andre Swift, now with the Chicago Bears, also earned votes, as did Seattle’s Kenneth Walker III.
