Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery isn’t sugarcoating his mindset heading into the 2025 season. After last year’s heartbreaking NFC Championship loss, Montgomery is channeling that pain into fuel — and issuing a challenge to the team.
“Everybody’s tired of being close,” Montgomery said during the first week of training camp. “We’ve been there. We’ve knocked on the door. Now it’s time to kick it down. We’ve got to finish.”
The 27-year-old back was a key figure in Detroit’s dominant ground game last season, forming a thunder-and-lightning duo with rookie sensation Jahmyr Gibbs. But the sting of being “almost there” — just a few plays away from the Super Bowl — still lingers.
Montgomery emphasized that the Lions are no longer satisfied with moral victories or deep playoff runs. He wants results — the kind that end with confetti falling and trophies hoisted.
Detroit enters 2025 with massive expectations, a loaded offense, and a defense that’s finally catching up. But for Montgomery, all the talent in the world doesn’t matter if the job isn’t finished.
“We know who we are now. We’re not sneaking up on anybody anymore,” he said. “And that’s good — it means we’ve got to bring it every single week.”
The mission is clear in Montgomery’s eyes: this year, the Lions aren’t aiming to compete — they’re aiming to conquer.
David Montgomery: ‘Tired of Being Close — It’s Time to Finish the Job
