David Montgomery makes franchise history by joining Barry Sanders after winning vs. the Packers
David Montgomery has been one of the most unsung heroes for the current version of the Detroit Lions. He already has 12 touchdowns this season and is averaging 4.3 yards per carry, making him a valuable threat for one of the best offenses in the league.
In an offense with Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs and Penei Sewell, it isn't so easy to stand out. But Montgomery continues to make plays for the Lions, and during the 34-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers, he joined a franchise legend with a milestone.
Montgomery became just the third player in the history of the Detroit Lions to amass two straight seasons with at least 12 rushing touchdowns. The last guy to do so was Barry Sanders, considered one of the greatest-ever running backs, in 1991:
He wasn't particularly impactful during Thursday's game, with just 51 rushing yards over 14 carries, with 3.6 yards per carry on average. However, apart from the touchdown, he also made a crucial fourth-down conversion on a running play that all but cemented the victory for his team.
David Montgomery's stats with the Detroit Lions are impressive
Curiously, the running back joined Dan Campbell's team following four years with a division rival. He was drafted in 2019 by the Chicago Bears and spent four years there with 30 total touchdowns, but the Bears decided not to retain his services and allowed him to go to the market in 2023.
He signed with the Lions and quickly became one of their most important pieces. He makes a great 1-2 punch with Detroit's other running back, Jahmyr Gibbs, as their attributes complement each other: Montgomery is a more physical back, while Gibbs is agile and contributes more in the passing game.
In just two years with the franchise, he already has 25 rushing touchdowns in 27 games, along with 1,786 rushing yards and 48 receptions.
It will be interesting to see if Detroit will retain his services. He will be a free agent after the 2024 season, and with Gibbs already there, it's not a guarantee that he'll be back in 2025.