By Blessing 
Detroit Lions Have Reason to Celebrate Ahead of 2025 NFL Season
With the 2025-26 NFL season fast approaching, the Detroit Lions have something worth getting excited about—and it couldn’t come at a better time. Like most NFL teams, positive news is always welcome in the offseason. But for the Lions, it’s especially crucial as they head into a season filled with change.
Detroit is entering this new chapter without their longtime offensive and defensive coordinators, creating a fair amount of uncertainty on the sidelines. That said, head coach Dan Campbell has proven to be a stabilizing force, and there’s still plenty of talent returning to the field—reason enough for fans to stay hopeful.
The team’s ultimate goal remains the same: finally reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. That dream feels a little more real thanks to a recent spotlight on one of their most electric young players.
A Rising Star in Detroit’s Backfield
As teams gear up for training camps and fans look ahead to fantasy drafts, player rankings are starting to roll out. In a July 7 feature, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler released his annual list of the top 10 running backs in the NFL, a ranking built from feedback gathered from league executives, coaches, and scouts.
Detroit’s own Jahmyr Gibbs made the cut—landing an impressive No. 3 overall, just behind Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry.
“Rushing success stories were all over the NFL map,” Fowler wrote. “The running back in Philly galvanized a Super Bowl run. The running back in Baltimore completely changed the Ravens’ offense. And young backs in Detroit and Atlanta showed major star power.”
Gibbs’ rise is particularly noteworthy considering he’s only entering his third year in the league. He exploded in the 2024 season, leading the NFL with 20 rushing touchdowns, and averaged an astonishing 6.4 yards per touch—the highest by any player with at least 250 touches in a season in over ten years.
That kind of production is hard to ignore, and scouts are taking notice.
Gibbs Earns High Praise from NFL Insiders
In Fowler’s report, an NFC scout described Gibbs as someone whose “raw speed at 5-foot-9 and 200 pounds can ‘flip the game upside down’ on one play.” That explosive ability is part of what makes him such a dangerous weapon for the Lions.
Gibbs even drew comparisons to former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL standout Reggie Bush.
“He’s a lot like Reggie Bush, just with a little bit more power,” said one AFC executive. “Size will always be a little bit more of an issue with him, but his speed and instincts and ability to change the game are a problem and may be the best in the league.”
Those are strong words—and they speak volumes about what Gibbs brings to the table.
Looking Ahead: High Hopes for 2025
With Gibbs and veteran back David Montgomery expected to share the backfield again, Detroit fans have every reason to be optimistic. The dynamic duo should give the Lions a balanced and explosive ground attack.
Even fantasy football analysts are taking notice. According to Pro Football Focus’ 2025 running back rankings, Gibbs is projected as the No. 2 fantasy back, thanks in part to the Lions’ new offensive coordinator and running backs coach. The shift could lead to more touches and even greater opportunities for Gibbs to shine.
As preseason buzz continues to grow, this latest recognition gives the Lions something meaningful to hold onto: hope, momentum, and a potential breakout superstar leading the charge.
And in a season full of transition, sometimes that’s exactly what a team needs.