ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Detroit Lions General Manager Brad Holmes addressed questions about the lack of running-game opportunities for David Montgomery and whether the team expects him to be on the roster next season.
Holmes acknowledged it was a tough year for Montgomery in terms of touches.
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“I’m not going to say that we went into it, planning for it to be that way,” Holmes said. “I thought he handled it like a pro.”
Holmes said the team will have deeper discussions about what is best for Montgomery moving forward.
“Is it somewhere else or whatever the case may be?” Holmes said. “But just really appreciate everything that he has done for us if it does end up going that way.”
Holmes expressed hope that Montgomery remains with the Lions.
“I hope it doesn’t because we love David Montgomery. He’s a good football player, and I wish we would have been able to get more utilization from him.”
He noted that head coach Dan Campbell shared that sentiment.
“Those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I got a lot of respect for that player,” Holmes said.
Holmes emphasized that Montgomery deserves to be in a situation where his skills can be fully utilized.
“Would love it for it to be here, but if it can’t be here, then you would have to just see what you can work out the best for him.”
Montgomery, 28, posted a photo on Instagram on Dec. 5, 2025, with the caption: “God grant me humility and gratitude and relieve me of selfishness and fear. #Blessed.”
The post appeared innocent, but a fan commented, urging him to request a trade due to his limited playing time compared to teammate Jahmyr Gibbs.
The fan wrote, “I love you, bro, but you should request a trade. The way they’re treating you and glazing Gibbs is atrocious. Look what happens when we don’t use you. We lose.”
Montgomery appeared to like the comment, fueling speculation about his dissatisfaction.
It looks like he may have unliked it recently.
Following that, Montgomery shared a photo of his jersey in his locker on his Instagram story, without any caption, adding to the intrigue.
The Lions have enjoyed success over the past two seasons with the running back duo of Gibbs, nicknamed Sonic, and Montgomery, known as Knuckles.
Their strong running game helped Detroit achieve a 15-2 record and secure the No. 1 seed in the conference during the 2024 season.
This season, Montgomery has carried the ball 158 times for 716 yards (4.5 YPC), eight combined touchdowns, and 24 catches for 192 yards through 17 games.
His standout performance came in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens, where he rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 carries.
In 2024, Montgomery had 185 carries for 775 yards and 12 touchdowns, along with 36 receptions.
His first season with the Lions in 2023 saw him rush 219 times for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns, plus 16 catches.
However, Montgomery’s usage has dropped significantly this season.
Montgomery is under contract with Detroit through the 2026 season, with a base salary of $5.49 million.
The Lions could potentially trade him by June 1, 2026, saving $3.5 million in cap space—if Montgomery indeed wants to leave.