Lions fans have come to expect toughness and consistency from David Montgomery, but this season delivered more questions than answers about his role in Detroit’s backfield.
David Montgomery didn’t have his best season in a Detroit Lions uniform, and for a team with playoff aspirations, consistency matters. While there were flashes of the bruising runner Lions fans have grown to appreciate, the overall body of work left much to be desired. From a fan’s perspective, Montgomery’s 2025 campaign was underwhelming, earning him a C grade.
Montgomery opened the season slowly, managing just 77 rushing yards and one touchdown on 22 carries through the first two games. That production averaged out to 3.5 yards per carry, nearly a full yard below his career average with Detroit. For an offense built on physicality and ball control, the early struggles were noticeable.
Just as concerns began to grow, Montgomery delivered one of the best performances of his career. Against the Baltimore Ravens, the veteran back erupted for 151 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries. The highlight was a 72-yard run that set up a short touchdown plunge, showcasing the power and vision that made him such a valuable piece of Detroit’s offense. It was the type of game Lions fans hoped would set the tone for the rest of the season.
Instead, inconsistency returned. The following week marked Montgomery’s worst outing of the year, as he finished with just 12 yards on nine carries. He rebounded again in Cincinnati, playing in his hometown stadium, where he logged a season-high 18 carries for 65 yards. That game included both a rushing touchdown and the first passing touchdown of his career, offering another reminder of his versatility.
However, that performance proved to be more of an exception than a turning point. Over the next six weeks, Montgomery struggled to find a rhythm, totaling just 201 yards and one rushing touchdown on 54 carries. As the season wore on, the Lions increasingly leaned on Jahmyr Gibbs, and Montgomery’s role began to shrink.
By season’s end, Montgomery finished with 158 carries for 716 yards and eight touchdowns. Both the carries and rushing yardage marked career lows. Perhaps most telling was how the Lions used him down the stretch. Over the final eight games, Montgomery recorded double-digit carries only once after doing so seven times in the first nine contests.
Those usage trends raise legitimate questions about Montgomery’s future in Detroit. He signed a two-year extension in 2024 and has two years remaining on his deal, with a base salary of $5.49 million in 2026. General manager Brad Holmes recently acknowledged the team will have “in-depth discussions” about Montgomery’s future, signaling that a trade or release could be on the table. Releasing Montgomery would leave the Lions with $4.9 million in dead money but save roughly $8 million in cap space.
From a fan standpoint, that’s a tough pill to swallow. Montgomery has been a key part of Detroit’s resurgence, bringing toughness, leadership and reliability during his time with the team. Still, the rise of Gibbs and the realities of the salary cap make the situation complicated.
Ultimately, this season was disappointing — not just for Lions fans, but likely for Montgomery himself. While his impact shouldn’t be forgotten, his 2025 performance fell short of expectations, making his future with the Lions one of the more intriguing storylines heading into the offseason.