The Detroit Lions will feature many familiar faces on the offensive side of the ball in 2026, potentially none more exciting than their starting running back.
Three-time Pro Bowler Jahmyr Gibbs is heading into his fourth season with the Lions already having accumulated 49 total touchdowns over his first three seasons. And with running back David Montgomery now out of the Lions’ backfield following his offseason trade to the Houston Texans, Gibbs now firmly has the role as the team’s primary ball carrier.
That’s a huge deal for NFL Network’s Kyle Brandt, who during an episode of “Good Morning Football” aired on Monday, June 1, predicted that Gibbs will win the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2026.
“There is no one I am all-in on more than Number 0 for the Detroit Lions,” he said. “Jahmyr Gibbs is one of the true guys who can be a solo artist … Offensive Player of the Year level stuff for Jahmyr Gibbs.”
Gibbs led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024 and followed with another 13 in 2025, rushing for over 1,200 yards each of the past two seasons while sharing a backfield with Montgomery. He has averaged over 5 yards per rushing attempt in all three seasons and at least 6 yards per receiving target each of the past two seasons as he has emerged as Detroit’s most versatile offensive weapon.
The only Lions player who has ever won the Offensive Player of the Year Award is running back Barry Sanders, who won in 1994 and 1997. Sanders received votes for the award in six of his 10 NFL seasons, while Gibbs has yet to be named as a finalist but did finish No. 8 in the vote in 2024.
But even though Gibbs didn’t receive votes in 2025, many see him as a favorite for the award, with BetMGM listing Gibbs with the best odds (+750) heading into the 2026 season.
Brandt projected Gibbs’ upcoming season to “Beyoncé leaving Destiny’s Child type-stuff,” which is an imperfect comparison considering Gibbs has not left the Lions. Still, Brandt followed by calling Gibbs “close to a perfect running back,” saying he will play a big role in the Lions making the postseason after a disappointing 9-8 finish in 2025.
“You don’t have the Offensive Player of the Year and not make the playoffs,” he said.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NFL host says Lions’ Jahmyr Gibbs will be Offensive Player of the Year
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
