The Detroit Lions find themselves at the center of one of the NFL's most intriguing offseason storylines, as the future of veteran running back David Montgomery remains shrouded in uncertainty. Over the past several weeks, a swirl of reports, public statements, and social media responses have left fans and analysts alike guessing: will Montgomery remain in Detroit, or is a change of scenery on the horizon?
It all began to intensify on March 1, 2026, when ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler dropped a bombshell. According to Fowler, "David Montgomery wants out of Detroit," citing sources at the NFL Scouting Combine. Fowler added that the Lions, if they were to part ways with their 28-year-old running back, would be seeking a decent Day 3 pick—potentially a fifth-rounder—in return. With Montgomery owed $6 million for the 2026 season and his role in the offense diminishing, trade speculation reached a fever pitch.
Montgomery, for his part, wasted little time addressing the rumors. In a rare tweet—his first since March 2024—he posted, "Damn, DMo told you that?" The cryptic response seemed to push back against the narrative that he was demanding a move, but it stopped short of a clear commitment to staying in Detroit. Fans searching for a definitive answer were left, once again, in limbo.
The roots of this saga stretch back to the end of the 2025 season. Montgomery, who signed a two-year extension in mid-2024 that keeps him under contract through 2027, saw his touches and production drop sharply as the Lions shifted focus to rising star Jahmyr Gibbs. In 2025, Montgomery logged career-lows: 158 carries for 716 rushing yards and eight touchdowns over 17 games. He averaged just 9.3 carries and 24 snaps per game, a significant decline from the previous year’s 13.2 carries and 27.9 snaps. During a critical late-season stretch, he had single-digit carries in six straight games, with Detroit managing only a 2-4 record in that span.
General manager Brad Holmes has been open about the situation, both in January and during his remarks at the NFL Scouting Combine in late February. "We love David. He’s a great player. We would love to have him," Holmes said. "Kind of want to put last year in the rearview and just move forward. But obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. So those conversations are still fluid and we’ll just kind of see how it goes." Holmes also acknowledged that while the Lions would like to keep Montgomery, they would do right by the player if he preferred to move on: “He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah, would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here then you’d just love to see where could work out best for him.”
The business side of the NFL is never far from these discussions. Should the Lions trade Montgomery, they would clear between $3.5 million and $6 million in cap space, depending on whether the trade occurs before or after June 1. With the team needing to find funds for pending free agents and extension-eligible players, including Gibbs, financial considerations are front and center. Holmes has already begun preliminary contract talks with Gibbs’ agent, signaling the franchise’s commitment to making Gibbs the core of their backfield for years to come.
Jahmyr Gibbs, for his part, has been vocal about wanting Montgomery to stay. At the Pro Bowl, Gibbs told the Detroit Free Press, “Of course I want David back. The whole team would want David back, but it’s ultimately up to him. He’s going to do what’s best for him and his family and whatever he decides to do I’m going to support 100%. But of course we want him back, though.” Montgomery echoed the mutual respect in an early February appearance on NFL Network: "Jahmyr is one of, if not the best running back in the league. And I believe I'm a damn good back. Us both being as selfless as we are, I think is really important. It’s something special to be a part of."
Head coach Dan Campbell and Holmes have both publicly expressed their desire to keep Montgomery in Honolulu blue, but neither has denied the possibility of a trade. The team’s stance is clear: they value Montgomery’s contributions and leadership, but they also recognize the realities of roster construction and player satisfaction. As Holmes put it, the conversations are "still fluid."
Montgomery’s career numbers speak for themselves. Entering his eighth NFL season, he has amassed 6,115 rushing yards and 59 touchdowns, along with 1,890 receiving yards and four scores over 105 games. In his three years with Detroit, he’s rushed for 2,506 yards and 33 touchdowns, adding 76 catches for 650 yards. Before joining the Lions, he was a workhorse for the Chicago Bears, tallying 3,609 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns in 60 games.
Yet, as the Lions have evolved offensively, Montgomery’s role has diminished. Gibbs has become the focal point, and the Lions are expected to prioritize his long-term contract. For a competitor like Montgomery, reduced carries and snaps are no small matter. In a previous interview reflecting on his time with the Bears, Montgomery said, "That's all I was used to. And it got to a point where it sucked the fun out of the game for me because I'm a competitor. I like to compete. That's what football's about. It's so refreshing to be in a place where that's appreciated." Those words, though spoken about his Chicago days, resonate now as his future in Detroit hangs in the balance.
As of now, no trade has been finalized, and the situation remains unresolved. The new league year, which begins on March 11, could bring clarity—or more twists. Both sides have left the door open: the Lions are willing to keep Montgomery if he wants to stay, and Montgomery has not definitively closed the chapter on his time in Detroit. For now, fans and observers are left to wait and watch, as one of the NFL’s most compelling offseason dramas plays out in real time.
With the clock ticking toward the start of free agency, all eyes remain on Detroit and David Montgomery. Will he be wearing Honolulu blue in 2026, or will a new chapter begin elsewhere? Stay tuned—the story is far from over.