Tim Twentyman

For the last two seasons, Scottie Montgomery has served as Dan Campbell's assistant head coach and the team's running backs coach in Detroit. In those two seasons he oversaw one of the best running back rooms in the NFL, featuring arguably the league's best running back duo inJahmyr GibbsandDavid Montgomery.

Detroit's 15 games with at least 100 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown tied the single-season NFL record last year, and the Lions topped 2,000 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in each of Montgomery's two seasons leading the running back room.

The results certainly speak for themselves, but there's been an eagerness from Montgomery to get back to the passing game and honing his skills in that department. When the opportunity to move to coaching the receivers came up this offseason, Montgomery jumped at the chance.

He said the discussion between him and Campbell was a quick one after former wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El left Detroit to become Ben Johnson's assistant head coach and receivers coach in Chicago. Detroit also added former NFL running back Tashard Choice to the coaching staff to lead the running back room, a natural fit.

Montgomery now inherits a receiver room in Detroit that features All-ProAmon-Ra St. Brown, 1,000-yard speedsterJameson Williams, crafty veterans likeTim Patrickand Kalif Raymond, and some exciting youngsters led by third-round rookie Isaac TeSlaa.

After the move from the running back room to the receiver room was announced, Montgomery said the first player to come see him was Williams, who has stayed in Detroit to train this offseason and take part in the offseason training program.

Montgomery said it's been fun to watch Williams' transformation going into his fourth season where expectations are high for him coming off the breakout year he had in 2024.

"He was here when I got back here and that's a big deal to me," Montgomery said. "When I came off the couple week break we had, Jamo was already here. Once I got the job, he knew exactly what it was and he came up just to say hello to me because he knew what we needed to get done."

To say Montgomery is excited about Williams' potential in new coordinator John Morton's offense would be a little bit of an understatement.

"Probably one of the better meetings I've ever seen from him," Montgomery said of a recent full offensive meeting. "You talk about the communication level and the questions and the football IQ and the acumen he was asking questions about.

"It's what we really wanted to see. (If) he keeps developing the way he's going right now, he's going to get to a location he really, really likes. I'm really satisfied with where he is right now."

Last season Williams had 69 scrimmage touches for 1,062 yards (15.4 avg.). His yards-per-touch average ranked third in the NFL among all players with at least 50 touches. He's the first Lions player to log five catches of 50-or-more yards in a single season since Calvin Johnson in 2013.

It's not just Montgomery who's excited about Williams' potential. Morton is also expecting big things from Williams and has been equally impressed with Williams' approach to this offseason.

"Unbelievable," Morton said of Williams' offseason. "When I first got here, he came in to see me and we had a chat. This is how I painted the picture, this is what you need to do and this is how I see it and he's been unbelievable.

"In the meetings, his attention to detail, I mean, I'm so excited to see him this year. It's going to be a breakout year for him. I can't wait. I just can't wait, man."