Historic Jahmyr Gibbs Announcement Made After Vikings-Lions Matchup

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Jan 7, 2025 9:25 AM ET

The Detroit Lions captured the NFC North division title and secured the No. 1 seed in the conference on Sunday night after defeating the Minnesota Vikings 31-9 in a dominant performance.

The victory was highlighted by an impressive defensive outing and a historic showing from running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who was the star of "Sunday Night Football."

The Lions scored the only four touchdowns of the game, with Gibbs accounting for all of them. He rushed 23 times for 139 yards and three rushing touchdowns, while also adding five receptions for 31 yards and one receiving touchdown.

Following the victory, which improved the Lions' record to 15-2 on the season, Gibbs solidified his place in NFL history. It was announced that he became just the second player in NFL history to record at least 100 receptions and 25 rushing touchdowns in his first two seasons, joining Hall of Fame running back Edgerrin James in this exclusive club.

Jahmyr Gibbs of the @Lions is the second player in NFL history with at least 100 catches and 25 rushing touchdowns in his first two seasons, joining Hall of Famer Edgerrin James. pic.twitter.com/qrp6sorvP4
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) January 6, 2025

Jahmyr Gibbs is also only the third running back in NFL history to average 6.4 scrimmage yards per touch and produce 20-plus touchdowns in a season. The last player to accomplish this feat was Marshall Faulk in 2000.

With the victory, the Lions have secured home-field advantage throughout the NFL playoffs and will enjoy a first-round bye, giving them a much-needed week off. This break comes at an ideal time, as Detroit has been dealing with a number of injuries, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Nonetheless, Gibbs has stepped into a more prominent role since David Montgomery went down with an injury and will remain a vital piece of the puzzle throughout the Lions' playoff run, as they hope to make a deep push that ends with a Super Bowl victory.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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