By Moses Joshua 
Brad Holmes’ candid comments open the door to a painful offseason decision involving one of Detroit’s most beloved veterans.
The Detroit Lions are staring down another offseason of uncomfortable conversations, and few are heavier than the one surrounding David Montgomery.
Just two years ago, Montgomery was the heartbeat of Detroit’s backfield, the tone-setter in a punishing rushing attack that helped rebrand the franchise. Now, as the Lions pivot toward a Jahmyr Gibbs-centric future, the veteran runner’s place in Detroit suddenly feels uncertain.
A Season That Changed Everything
Montgomery sensed the shift even before the 2025 campaign began. With Gibbs rapidly becoming one of the league’s most electric backs, the 28-year-old admitted he hoped fans wouldn’t forget about him.
That fear proved justified.
As the season unfolded, Montgomery’s touches dipped sharply. Detroit’s offensive line struggled, the run game lost its consistency, and Gibbs increasingly became the engine of the offense. By year’s end, the former Bears standout was no longer the featured piece in the “Sonic and Knuckles” tandem that once terrorized defenses.
Brad Holmes Opens the Door
Lions general manager Brad Holmes did not dance around the issue when he spoke with reporters Thursday. His words carried both respect and realism.
“Yeah look, obviously I know that it was a tough year for him in terms of the lack of touches. I’m not going to say that we went into it planning it to be that way,” Holmes said. “I think he handled it like a pro. Look, those are discussions that we’re going to have to have a lot more in depth, in terms of what is the best plan for him going forward, is it somewhere else or whatever the case be.”
Holmes doubled down on the emotional weight of the decision.
“Just really appreciate everything that he has done for us, if it does end up going that way. I hope it doesn’t because we love David Montgomery,” he said. “He’s a good football player and wish that we would’ve been able to get more utilization from him. I know (Lions head coach) Dan (Campbell) feels the same way.
“But, those are conversations that we’re going to have to have, because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player. He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized, and so yeah, would love for it to be here, but if it can’t be here, then you’d just love to see where (it) could work out best for him.”
Those aren’t the words of a team fully committed to keeping a player long-term.
The Business Side Gets Complicated
Montgomery is owed $1.75 million in guaranteed money in 2026, with a $5.49 million salary attached. Releasing him would leave Detroit with $4.9 million in dead cap — not insignificant, but manageable for a franchise preparing to invest heavily in Gibbs.
And invest they likely will.
Gibbs exploded in 2025, finishing with 1,839 scrimmage yards and 18 touchdowns, positioning himself for a massive contract extension and an even larger role next season.
From Foundation Piece to Uncertain Future
It’s hard to overstate what Montgomery meant to Detroit. In his first year with the Lions, he rushed for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns, instantly becoming one of the leaders in the locker room. The Montgomery-Gibbs pairing was among the league’s most feared in 2024.
But football moves fast. Rosters evolve. And in a league built on youth and cap math, loyalty often collides with necessity.
The Lions may desperately want Montgomery back — but as Holmes made clear, wanting something doesn’t always make it workable.
For a player who once symbolized Detroit’s resurgence, the next snap he takes might not be in Honolulu blue.