By Sunday 
If Thursday Night Football felt a little electric, it wasn’t your imagination. Detroit Lions fans watched something special unfold — something so rare it’s only ever been done by one man before.
And that man is Barry Sanders.
A Three-Touchdown Night That Meant Much More
Jahmyr Gibbs didn’t just score. He announced himself — again — as one of the most exciting young running backs to touch a football in this era.
Against the Dallas Cowboys, Gibbs ran for three touchdowns in Detroit’s 44–30 win, pushing his career total to 47 touchdowns.
That number matters.
Because 47 ties Barry Sanders for the NFL record for a player before turning 24 years old, and it also ties the record for most touchdowns in a player’s first three NFL seasons.
And here’s the kicker: Gibbs doesn’t even turn 24 until March.
The record is basically waiting for him to break it.
A First-Round Pick Paying Off in Full
The Lions took Gibbs with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft — a move that raised some eyebrows at the time. But now? It looks brilliant.
For two seasons he shared the workload with David Montgomery, and even now Monty still gets his touches (including a touchdown against Dallas).
But the offense has unmistakably shifted: this is the Gibbs show now.
On Thursday, Gibbs rushed for just 43 yards on 12 carries, but that didn’t tell the whole story. He added seven catches for 77 yards, showcasing the dual-threat style that makes him nearly impossible to game-plan for.
Standing in Rare Air — With No. 20 Watching
Being mentioned alongside Barry Sanders is already sacred ground in Detroit.
But matching an NFL record held by Sanders? That’s something else entirely.
As the article notes, “Being in the same company as Sanders is as rare as it can get,” especially when the only other guy to have done what you’re doing is Barry Sanders himself.
And in a poetic twist, Sanders was right there at Ford Field — watching Gibbs light up the stadium the same way he once did.
A Star Growing in Real Time
When you watch Gibbs, it’s impossible not to feel like you’re witnessing the early chapters of a special career.
There have been thousands of running backs in NFL history. Very few have done what Gibbs is doing.
And now he’s tied with the greatest Lion of them all — until he inevitably breaks the tie in the next game or two.
Detroit might have its next legend in the making.