Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery has denied reports that he wants to be traded or released by the team.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Montgomery “wants out” of Detroit after his role in the Lions offense was diminished last season. There are rumors at the NFL Combine that the Lions will seek a third-day pick, likely a fifth-round pick, in exchange for the seven-year veteran.
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However, Montgomery himself responded to a tweet summarizing the Fowler report and suggested it wasn’t true, posting “Damn, Demer told you?”
Montgomery, who turns 29 in June, appeared in all 17 games for Detroit last season. But after starting 28 times with the Lions in his first two years without starting a game, Jameer Gibbs got the nod.
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In his third season with Detroit, Montgomery has 27 fewer carries and 59 fewer yards than he did in 2024, not a huge drop in either metric. However, the Lions seem to prefer Gibbs and the explosiveness his speed brings to the offense. Gibbs, who is about to turn 24, has become one of the top running backs in the NFL. He rushed for 1,223 yards, seventh-highest in the league, and scored 13 touchdowns.
The Lions hired Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator, hoping he would bring the same rushing attack he coached with the Arizona Cardinals. During the 2023 and 2024 seasons, during his tenure as offensive coordinator, the Cardinals ranked among the top eight rushing teams in the NFL. That seems to mean Montgomery and Gibbs will once again share the rushing load.
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There have been rumors that Detroit could trade Montgomery after the season, with general manager Brad Holmes telling reporters he expects the running back to return.
“We love David. He’s a great player. We’d love to have him,” Holmes said on Pro Football Talk . “Kind of trying to put last year behind us and move forward. But, obviously, players have to want to get to a certain position as well. So those conversations are still fluid and we’re just trying to see how that goes.”
Petching also praised Montgomery in an interview with Detroit Pride and said he was excited to work with him.
“He’s a dynamic defender who can impact the game with the ball in his hands. He’s really a three-man back,” Petching said. “You don’t often look at him and say, ‘He can’t do this’ or ‘He can’t do that.’ That’s what I said. I said, ‘Hey, I’m excited to work with you. I can’t wait to get you in the building.”
Montgomery has two seasons remaining on his contract, which carries a combined base salary of $13 million and is due for a two-year extension in October 2024.
