Through two seasons, where does Jahmyr Gibbs rank in Detroit Lions running back history? Could he already be cracking the top-three?
This week, we’ve already talked about how Amon-Ra St. Brown may already be considered a top-three receiver in Detroit Lions history and how Penei Sewell is in that very same conversation at offensive tackle.
The next current Lions player we’re going to talk about probably hasn’t quite earned that high of a reputation yet, but he could be there in the next season or two.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs is coming off an outstanding sophomore season with the Lions. He rushed for 1,412 yards, 5.6 yards per carry, and 16 rushing touchdowns. Not even factoring in his receiving contributions, that goes down as one of the best rushing seasons in Lions history.
His 1,412 rushing yards are ninth in Lions history—behind Barry Sanders’ top-seven seasons and Billy Sims’ 1981 campaign. His 16 rushing touchdowns were only bested by Jamaal Williams two years ago. and his 5.7 yards per carry (min. 150 carries) is third all-time—again, behind two Sanders seasons.
So today’s Question of the Day is:
Where does Jahmyr Gibbs rank among all-time Lions RBs?
My answer: While last year was the kind of rushing season the Lions really only ever saw when Barry Sanders was active, Gibbs is going to need a lot more playing time before we should consider him among the Lions’ all-time greats.
As of right now, Gibbs ranks 16th in Lions rushing yards with only two seasons under his belt. With another 1000-yard season, he’d jump all the way to seventh. If he were to clear 2,000 in a season, he’d jump to fourth. It would essentially only take two full seasons of strong production for Gibbs to enter the top-five discussion—and probably eventually challenge for the top three among two of Detroit’s biggest icons: Barry Sanders and Billy Sims.
Still, there are only nine players who have rushed for 1,000 yards in a season for the Lions, and Gibbs appears to have already surpassed many of those players in his early career. Take a look:
- Barry Sanders (x10)
- Billy Sims (x3)
- Jahmyr Gibbs
- James Stewart (x2)
- Kevin Jones
- Jamaal Williams
- Steve Owens
- David Montgomery
- Reggie Bush
Who amongst that group is definitively better than Gibbs? Owens made the Pro Bowl during his 1,000-yard season, but disappointed for the rest of his career. James Stewart only lasted three years in Detroit, and despite crossing over 1,000 yards twice, he averaged just 4.1 yards per carry with the Lions. Reggie Bush’s two-year numbers in Detroit have already been dwarfed by Gibbs’. In short, I don’t think anyone other than Detroit’s top two backs have strong cases to be better than Gibbs.
There are others to at least mention. Mel Farr grabbed a couple of Pro Bowls and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. Dexter Bussey started exactly 100 games for the Lions over 11 seasons—totalling over 1,000 scrimmage yards three times. Bob Hoernschemeyer made a couple of Pro Bowls in the 1950s.
But let’s not forget another back from the 50s: Pro Football Hall of Famer Doak Walker. The running back/kicker of the 1950s won a pair of championships, was named All-Pro four times, and Pro Bowl five times. The stats don’t compare to the modern era, but he has to be ahead of Gibbs right now.
So I think a case could be made that Gibbs is already in the conversation for fourth-best running back in Lions history—only behind three Lions icons: Barry Sanders, Billy Sims, and Doak Walker. If Gibbs can continue on the pace he’s on and have a career spanning at least six or seven years, he’ll challenge everyone short of Sanders on the list.
Where do you think Gibbs already ranks? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know.