Jahmyr Gibbs is not saying much publicly, but the little he did say Thursday morning was very much on purpose.
The Detroit Lions running back posted a short Instagram story telling the team he is “patiently waiting” on his next contract. That message went up on Thursday, and Gibbs also skipped practice on Wednesday. Both actions together look a lot like a hold-in as contract talks continue to drag.
The Lions have said they fully intend to extend Gibbs. He is under contract through 2027 after Detroit picked up his fifth-year option at $14.3 million. But under contract does not mean paid. Gibbs is one of the most productive dual-threat running backs in football, and he deserves to be paid like it.
Detroit knows this, and so does Gibbs. The gap between the sides is likely on the exact structure and length of the deal, not whether one gets done. He is going to get his money. The question is when.
Gibbs’ case for a big extension is strong. In three NFL seasons, he has been electric as both a runner and a receiver. He complements David Montgomery perfectly in the Lions offense, and Dan Campbell’s system leans heavily on running back production. Gibbs is a Pro Bowler and a foundational piece of an offense that has been one of the best in the league.
The running back market has been complicated for years. Teams have not wanted to pay top dollar for running backs, and multiple stars have watched their careers hit financial walls before earning what they should have. Recently though, guys like Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry got real money, and the market has crept back up.
Gibbs is exactly the kind of running back who deserves to break the mold. He is not a battering ram like Henry. He is not a traditional workhorse who might wear down. He is a dual-threat weapon who catches passes out of the backfield and takes short throws for chunk plays. That skill set has more longevity than a pure between-the-tackles runner.
The Lions can afford to pay him. Their salary cap is in fine shape, and general manager Brad Holmes has been aggressive about locking up his core. The reason this is dragging is probably about specific numbers, not about whether the team wants him back.
The “patiently waiting” post is Gibbs’ way of applying pressure without escalating. He is not making noise about wanting a trade. He is not blasting the team in a press conference. He is just quietly reminding everyone that his patience has a limit, and that he expects the team to get this done.
This is smart negotiating from Gibbs. Public pressure can move deals, but overly public pressure can create bad blood. His post threads that needle nicely.
David Montgomery, meanwhile, is watching from the other side of the running back room. Montgomery is also going to want a look at his own contract situation soon. If the Lions handle Gibbs well, Montgomery might be next.
Expect Gibbs to be at practice within the next few days. Expect a deal to get done at some point during camp or early in the regular season. Neither side benefits from letting this fester.
The Lions have Super Bowl aspirations. They cannot afford distractions like this to become a story. Pay the man and move on.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
