The Detroit Lions have locked in one of the most dynamic playmakers in the league. Three-time Pro Bowl running back Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions reached agreement Thursday on a three-year contract extension that can be worth up to $75.75 million and includes $51.5 million in guarantees, according to multiple reports confirmed by his agent, Todd France of Athletes First.
The deal, which has a base value of $67.5 million, elevates Gibbs to the top of the running back market in both average annual value and guaranteed money. It surpasses the three-year extension Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson signed earlier this week (base value around $66.75 million, up to $75 million, with $51 million guaranteed) and the previous high set by Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley.
Gibbs, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Alabama, had been holding in during the early days of training camp while negotiations continued. He returned to the field Thursday for the first time, participating in walkthroughs and stretching before working with trainers, and gave a thumbs-up when asked if a new deal was close. The agreement ends that hold-in and keeps the 24-year-old in Detroit long-term.
Through three NFL seasons, Gibbs has produced at an elite level. He has rushed for 3,580 yards and 39 touchdowns on 675 carries (5.3 yards per attempt) while adding 181 receptions for 1,449 yards and 10 scores. In 2025 he recorded 1,223 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns along with 77 catches for 616 yards and five more scores, earning his third consecutive Pro Bowl nod. He is one of only a handful of players in league history to reach 4,500-plus yards from scrimmage and 45-plus touchdowns in his first three seasons.
The Lions exercised Gibbs’ fifth-year option earlier this year, which would have paid him roughly $14.3 million in 2027. The new extension restructures and extends that timeline, rewarding production that has made him a centerpiece of Detroit’s offense alongside the likes of Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and the rest of a core the franchise has steadily locked up with long-term deals.
For a position that has faced questions about long-term value in the salary-cap era, Gibbs’ contract reinforces the premium on dual-threat backs who can impact games as both runners and receivers. At 5-foot-9 and roughly 200 pounds with elite speed and vision, he has thrived in Detroit’s scheme and now carries the financial validation that comes with it.
The agreement keeps Gibbs under contract with the Lions beyond his original rookie deal and positions him as the highest-paid player at his position heading into the 2026 season. For a franchise that has invested heavily in its young core, it is another clear statement that the organization views Gibbs as a foundational piece for years to come.
