Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery again take rightful place in RB duo ranking

The Detroit Lions remodeled their running back room during the 2023 offseason, signing David Montgomery to replace Jamaal Williams and drafting Jahmyr Gibbs 12th overall to push to the finish line what had been a simmering notion D'Andre Swift could be traded.

That first season together, "Sonic and Knuckles" nearly became the eighth duo in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards for the same team in a season (Gibbs fell 55 yards short). Last year, they were on a solid pace to get it done before Montgomery missed the final three games of the regular season.

It feels like a matter of time before Gibbs and Montgomery get that double 1,000-yard rushing seasons thing done. They have a close relationship and are fine sharing the work in the Lions' backfield as they own their roles: Gibbs as the more explosive big play back ("Sonic"), and Montgomery has a more traditional workhorse-type ("Knuckles"). They have both had over 1,100 yards from scrimmage in each of their two seasons together, which has to be it's own unique feat even without full historical context.

"Sonic and Knuckles" again take their rightful place in RB duo ranking

Last year around this time, Gibbs and Montgomery came in at No. 1 in Bleacher Report's ranking of the best running back duos in the NFL ahead of the 2024 season. Now heading toward the 2025 season, there was no reason to take them off that spot in B/R's fresh ranking of the league's best running back duos, and writer Moe Moton truly started his analysis with the punch line.

"Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery have been a highly productive pair for consecutive seasons. So, they're the clear-cut No. 1 running back duo with distinctive numbers."

"They have eclipsed 1,115 yards and scored double-digit touchdowns in their seasons together. Gibbs is a home-run playmaker with two Pro Bowl seasons in as many years. Montgomery doesn't have those accolades, but he has two 1,000-plus rushing yard campaigns and has caught 207 passes for 1,698 yards and four touchdowns." 

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers' running backs Bucky Irving and Rachaad White came in at No. 2 in this year's ranking. Moton tried to draw a parallel between them and Gibbs/Montgomery, as if there's any question about who the best running back duo in the league is.

"Like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Detroit Lions lost their offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson, but Gibbs and Montgomery—nicknamed Sonic and Knuckles—have a well-established chemistry as key playmakers in the offense."

"Gibbs' Pro Bowl years and Montgomery's six seasons of steady production vaulted the Lions duo over the Buccaneers' tandem."

Separately, Gibbs and Montgomery are two of the top 10-12 (?) running backs in the NFL. Together, they're the best running back duo in the league until further notice.