Don't mistakenly sleep on Jahmyr Gibbs as dark horse for top NFL award

For much of the 2024 season, Detroit Lions' quarterback Jared Goff was viewed a chic MVP candidate given the numbers he piled up as the franchise banked wins.

Goff faded from consciousness around the time he was out-dueled by eventual MVP Josh Allen in December. He ended up finishing a distant fifth to Allen in voting, and while he had a solid year, he didn't get much award love.

The Lions haven't had a serious MVP threat since the days of Barry Sanders winning the award in 1997. Since, only Adrian Peterson has claimed MVP honors at running back since 2012. Given the shift toward quarterbacks, Goff could remain the standard bearer moving forward.

Still, the most potent player on the Lions with the best case as a future MVP could be Jahmyr Gibbs. After a quiet first half of his rookie year, Gibbs exploded in the second half of 2023 and parlayed that into a fantastic 2024, posting 1,412 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.

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While Gibbs will share the spotlight and carries with David Montgomery, he is a threat to score any time he touches the ball, and has the look of a human highlight reel with his speed. That gives him the same spice Sanders once enjoyed.

Bleacher Report recently picked out five under-the-radar MVP candidates for 2025, and the only running back on the list was Saquon Barkley. Barkley puts up numbers for a great team, but Gibbs could deliver more excitement given his abilities as a pass catcher. In two years, Gibbs has 833 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

If Gibbs is able to close in on 2,000 rushing yards while generating close to 800 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns, those are the kind of numbers that would enhance his case as MVP. Already, the Lions understand how they can help Gibbs take these next steps.

Dan Campbell plotting how to help Jahmyr Gibbs shine in 2025

A big reason Gibbs could be in line for hype? The Lions want him to be an offensive focal point. With plenty of other weapons for the opposition to focus on, Gibbs has the opportunity to explode, which Campbell admits the franchise wants to make happen.

"I think it's how many ways can we isolate one of these guys, right? I think that's what it comes down to. We know we're going to get the one-on-one with Jameson (Williams) and these are the best routes to use him on and let him shine and do what he does. (Sam) LaPorta as well, (Jahmyr) Gibbs as well. So that way, you want to take away (Amon-Ra) St. Brown? You want to take away Williams? Take away LaPorta? All right, Gibbs, here we go. Here's your three routes, here's what you do best, or any of those other guys."

Campbell knows that the Lions have already figured out some of the nuts and bolts and now, the devil is merely in the details.

"I think it's not all that different from what we've done before, but I think so much of it will be how do we simple plays and let those guys go to work? (How do we) get it in their hands and let them go to work and do what they do?"

The Lions will figure out how to Gibbs going, and at 23, the sky is the limit for what he can accomplish. With John Morton likely to lean on playmakers, count on Gibbs having a huge statistical season. He could even work his way into MVP talks by the second half.