Lions running back David Montgomery is near the top of the NFL leaderboard with seven rushing touchdowns this season. He could have had eight, if not for a selfless decision against the Chargers last weekend.
In the first quarter of Detroit’s win in Los Angeles, rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs broke off a 35-yard run but was tackled at the 1-yard line. Usually, the bigger Montgomery comes into the game in goal line situations, but not in this case.
Ashley Landis/AP
As Gibbs explained on the podcast that teammate Amon-Ra St. Brown and his brother, Bears receiver Equanimeous St. Brown, host for The 33rd Team, Montgomery let the rookie have the touchdown.
Awesome: #Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs said that RB David Montgomery let him have the touchdown near the endzone vs the #Chargers.
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) November 16, 2023
“I was supposed to come out, then David came out, got me, and was like ‘Jah, do you want [the touchdown]?’”
Gibbs said yes and Monty ran off the field so… pic.twitter.com/z3XxPxQs2s
“I was supposed to come out [of the game] and then David came out [on the field]. He came and got me, and then he was like, ‘Jah, you want [the touchdown]?” Gibbs said. “I was thinking. I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah. Let me get it.’ He was like, ‘Bet.’ He just ran out and he let me get it. So, props to big bro D-Mo.”
It’s a nice gesture by Montgomery to let Gibbs get the touchdown after he was pulled down just shy of the goal line, but Montgomery is lucky Gibbs actually scored on the ensuing play. Coach Dan Campbell wouldn’t have been happy if the 200-pound Gibbs got stood up at the line on a handoff that was supposed to go to the bigger Montgomery.
