By Blessing 
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs is stepping into a more dynamic role in the team’s offense — and he’s excited about it.
With John Morton now calling the shots as offensive coordinator, the Lions are looking to expand an already explosive playbook. One of Morton’s biggest shifts could be maximizing Gibbs’ potential as a receiving threat.
During recent offseason practices, Gibbs opened up about the changes he’s seeing and his evolving responsibilities.
“I gotta learn the formations for being split out,” Gibbs said via WXYT Detroit. “I’m being split out like way more than I was the past two years. That’s good. That’s going to be fun. I’ve been waiting on that.”
Since the Lions selected him 12th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, Gibbs has always been viewed as more than a traditional running back. His speed and agility make him a natural fit to contribute in the passing game — and Morton seems ready to lean into that even more.
So far, the numbers back up the potential. In his first two seasons under former OC Ben Johnson, Gibbs hauled in 104 catches on 134 targets for 833 yards and five touchdowns. Despite that success, he still spent the vast majority of his snaps (568 out of 638 last season) lined up in the backfield, according to Pro Football Focus. He only saw 32 snaps in the slot and 38 lined up wide in 2024 — both down from his rookie year.
Now entering his third season, Gibbs looks poised to become a centerpiece of the Lions’ offense. With his home-run ability and Morton’s willingness to get creative, the possibilities are growing fast.
That doesn’t mean David Montgomery is being pushed aside. Instead, the Lions could deploy both backs together more often. Using Gibbs as a pass-catcher out wide — especially against linebackers — gives Detroit an edge it’s ready to exploit.