ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Jahmyr Gibbs returned to the Detroit Lions’ practice field for the second day in a row on Friday.
This time, it was as the highest-paid running back in the NFL.
The Lions are giving Gibbs a three-year extension worth $22.5 million per year.
For Gibbs, the hold-in was not easy, but he is thrilled to get back to work.
“This was extremely stressful,” Gibbs said of the process during training camp. “I just wanted to play ball.”
That tough process is over. Gibbs is ready to show this team he can be a tough, dependable player for the franchise as a “bell cow” type of player for the offense.
“I appreciate (the Lions) having that much trust in me,” Gibbs said. “For me, it’s not something that I’m not used to. I think I’ve always been in that role.”
The Lions coaching staff agrees that Gibbs is built for an expanded role in the offense.
“When you’ve got a guy like Jah, he can be a ‘bell cow’ and touch it 10 times and have 200 total yards,” Lions wide receiver coach Scottie Montgomery said. “We just need him to be impactful.”
Gibbs earned a historic contract, but that is not the ultimate goal for the Lions superstar.
“Ultimately, I just want to win a Super Bowl with this team and doing whatever it takes to get that,” Gibbs said.