By Moses Joshua 
Despite Detroit’s red-zone dominance, David Montgomery found himself just inches short — again and again.
The Lions Were Hot, But Montgomery Was Cold at the Goal Line
The Detroit Lions boasted one of the most potent offenses in the NFL during the 2024 season, steamrolling their way into the postseason with a lethal mix of air and ground threats. While quarterback Jared Goff orchestrated an efficient passing attack, the running back tandem of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery pounded defenses week after week.
But hidden beneath Detroit’s flashy scoring stats is a peculiar — and downright frustrating — detail for one key contributor.
David Montgomery, the bruising back brought in to be the Lions’ physical presence between the tackles, found himself repeatedly denied at the doorstep of the end zone. In fact, he was tackled at the opponent’s 1-yard line more than almost any other player in the NFL.
Inches from Glory — Repeatedly
According to a feature on NFL.com by Kevin Patra, Saquon Barkley led the league in the unfortunate category of being tackled at the 1-yard line — happening to him 11 times. Right behind him? Five players tied for second place with eight such instances. Among them: David Montgomery.
That stat might sound trivial on the surface, but for a power back like Montgomery — whose role often revolves around converting short-yardage and red-zone opportunities — it’s a glaring case of bad luck.
Despite those near-misses, Montgomery still managed a solid 2024 campaign: 775 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, serving as a key complement to the more explosive Gibbs, who racked up over 1,400 rushing yards and 16 rushing scores.
But just imagine the numbers Montgomery could have posted if even a few of those eight stops just shy of the goal line had gone his way.
Context Matters: Shared Carries and Split Success
In fairness, Montgomery’s role in the offense was more specialized in 2024 than in years past. With Jahmyr Gibbs taking on a larger share of the workload and flashing game-breaking speed, Montgomery’s touches were often situational — particularly in short-yardage and red-zone scenarios.
That only makes the unlucky stat more painful. He was brought in to finish drives. He did — often. But eight times, he was stopped just before glory.
Still, there’s optimism within the organization. Lions coaches continue to praise Montgomery’s toughness, leadership, and consistency. His ability to wear down defenses remains an essential part of Dan Campbell’s ground-and-pound philosophy.
Looking Ahead: Regression to the Mean?
If there’s one upside to this strange statistic, it’s this: bad luck often doesn’t repeat itself.
The odds that Montgomery again gets tackled eight times at the 1-yard line in 2025 are slim. If he continues to see those high-value touches near the goal line, some of those inches-left-short plays are bound to become touchdowns.
In a loaded Lions offense poised for another deep playoff push, a few extra scores from Montgomery could be the difference between a strong season — and a Super Bowl run.
Final Thought:
David Montgomery may have been the NFL’s most unlucky touchdown scorer last year. But with the same power, grit, and determination — plus a little more luck — don’t be surprised if he flips the script in 2025.