Lions GM compares Jahmyr Gibbs to two legendary NFL running backs

In the 2023 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions drafted running back Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round. This was a slightly controversial choice, as some experts argue that teams should never draft a running back that highly in the draft.

If GM Brad Holmes has any regrets, he isn’t letting anyone know about them, though. Instead, Holmes emphasized that Gibbs is going to be a great weapon for the Lions, even comparing him to a par of NFL legends, Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey.

“When I first got with the Rams in 2003, Marshall Faulk was still there, and I was a huge Marshall Faulk guy — just kind of seeing what he does in both phases,” Holmes said.

“And just from a scouting standpoint, when Christian McCaffrey came out, he was the last guy that I was like, ‘Holy cow, this guy can run routes like a slot receiver but also run it.’ So, you start getting reminders of those players. I’m not sitting here saying Jahmyr Gibbs is those players, but just a special weapon like that. We have a lot of excitement and optimism.”

Along with Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery has joined Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift in Detroit to bolster the running game in an attempt to get back to the playoffs. After going 9-8 in 2022 and Aaron Rodgers leaving Green Bay for the New York Jets, the division does seem up for grabs.

Asking Gibbs to play at the level of a Faulk or McCaffrey is a lot, but it goes to show how highly Detroit thinks of its young running back.

LaDainian Tomlinson compared Jahmyr Gibbs to a legendary running back

The Detroit Lions aren’t the only ones who expect great things out of Jahmyr Gibbs. Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson compared Gibbs to another running back legend, Chris Johnson. A big reason for that comparison is that they’re both incredibly fast.

“This guy has speed to burn. If he gets to the Combine and he runs like a 4.2, look out, he might rocket up the draft boards, much like a guy like Chris Johnson did many years ago,” Tomlinson said.

“A guy that I’m looking at is Jahmyr Gibbs, the guy from Alabama who actually started at Georgia Tech and transferred to Alabama. You look at this guy and I mean he is quick as all get-out. Very explosive in short-area spaces, can catch the ball out the backfield.”