Tim Twentyman

One of the players Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said stood out to him during Detroit's offseason training program this spring was third-year running backJahmyr Gibbs.

Gibbs is coming off a 2024 season in which he set the franchise record for touchdowns in a season with 20, also leading the NFL. He earned his first Pro Bowl and was third behind only Saquon Barkley (2,283) and Derrick Henry (2,114) in total scrimmage yards with 1,929.

Gibbs is quickly becoming one of the bright young running backs in this league, and if new running backs coach Tashard Choice has anything to say about it, he'll push Gibbs to be even better in 2025.

Choice is in his first season coaching Detroit's running backs after being hired away from the University of Texas where he held the same coaching position. Before Texas, Choice recruited and coached Gibbs at Georgia Tech as their running backs coach.

"For him, the sky is the limit," Choice said of Gibbs. "I'm going to push him. I'm going to push him like no other. I have to.

"Having the chance to watch (Gibbs) from afar for these last three years, and every single week because of (Lions defensive coordinator and close friend Kelvin Sheppard) Shep and because of Jah, I kept wanting to watch the Lions' games.

"To see him progress, to see how smart he is I tell him he's one of the smartest running backs I've ever coached. He's just a natural football player ... so having an opportunity to get around him now coaching, I'm going to be harder on him even more."

Gibbs was third in the NFL last year in average yards per carry (5.65) and had the highest percentage of 10-plus yard runs in the league (16.4 percent). He scored a touchdown in 13 games.

TeammateDavid Montgomery, an established veteran with a proven track record in this league, referred to Gibbs as a 'generational talent' late last year when he was returning from a knee injury that cost him the final three games of the regular season.

In Montgomery's absence, Gibbs carried the load for Detroit's run game and rushed 64 times for 365 yards with five rushing touchdowns. He also caught 14 passes for 122 more yards and another score the final three weeks of the season as Detroit beat Chicago, San Francisco and Minnesota to win their second consecutive NFC North title and earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC Playoffs.

Gibbs is one of the most explosive backs in the NFL. Teamed with Montgomery, they form arguably the best running back duo in the league.

Now it's about consistency for Gibbs. He set the bar high coming off the season he had last year. The really good backs in this league are able to consistently produce at a high level year after year. That's the challenge for Gibbs moving forward.

Choice talked about Gibbs' ability to make people miss, how he sees the field and can set up to make the second and third defender miss without even looking at him - special skills it took Choice years to perfect over a six-year NFL career.

Choice has known Gibbs dating back to Gibbs' high school days at Dalton High School in Georgia. He's been around him, coached him and he's convinced Gibbs can be even better and plans to push him hard to reach that lofty potential.