Jahmyr Gibbs sends warning to NFL after Lions' disappointing 2025 season

The Detroit Lions are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season in which they went 9-8 and missed the playoffs. 

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs has emerged as one of the league's most explosive offensive weapons, and his presence is a big reason many believe Detroit will return to the postseason this coming January. During a recent chat with ESPN's Eric Woodyard, Gibbs shared somewhat of a warning for the rest of the NFL regarding what he and his teammates could achieve through January or February of 2027.

Lions are already "in season form" ahead of the summer?

"The whole team is doing great," Gibbs said about the Lions. "Like, we're so far [ahead] of where we were last year at this time. Everybody's playing fast. Everybody knows what to do. It feels like we're almost in season form."

While playing under former offensive coordinator John Morton, Gibbs finished last season ranked fifth in the NFL with 1,839 total yards from scrimmage and second with 18 scrimmage touchdowns. However, Lions head coach Dan Campbell basically handed Morton a demotion when Campbell took over as the club's offensive play-caller during Detroit's 44-22 victory over the Washington Commanders on Nov. 9.

What Drew Petzing has already shown Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions

As had been expected, Campbell parted ways with Morton this past January. The Lions eventually hired former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing as Morton's full-time replacement. 

"He's smart," Gibbs said about Petzing. "He's demanding of us, but he knows we can do it. He puts a lot on our plate, but like I said, he knows we can do it."

As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Lions fifth among the betting favorites at +920 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LXI. At that same time, DraftKings Sportsbook had Gibbs as the overall betting favorite at +750 odds to win the Offensive Player of the Year Award for the upcoming season. 

If that second forecast proves to be accurate, Gibbs and the Lions could do more than just participate in a single playoff game during the winter.