Ever since Jahmyr Gibbs was drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2023 as the 12th overall pick, he has been constantly compared to the legendary Barry Sanders. And now, the franchise icon himself has weighed in on the topic.

Sanders praised Gibbs and endorsed him, speaking highly about Gibbs and the Lions’ rushing attack.

Gibbs recently broke Sanders’ record for most touchdowns scored through his first three seasons in NFL history. He scored 49 touchdowns in three years, surpassing Sanders’ record by 18. 

“He’s one of those guys where it’s just hard not to watch him when he gets the ball,” said Sanders to the Detroit Free Press on Gibbs.

Previously, while speaking to reporter Eric Woodyard about Gibbs' milestone, Sanders had showered the Lions rookie with praise.

“I am so happy for Jahmyr, and his teammates. It is really incredible when you think he was able to score so many times with so many other weapons on offense. And he is not done yet, I hope. It is a real testament to his ability to consistently create big plays,” said Sanders.

Sanders is a former MVP who has rushed for 15,269 yards in his career and is the gold standard in Detroit football history. Gibbs seems to be on the same path, as is evident from the fact that Gibbs has made the Pro Bowl every season since he got drafted.

Gibbs is one of the league’s most explosive dual-threat backs and has helped the Lions become a legitimate contender in the NFC.

His partnership with David Montgomery has been aptly named "Sonic and Knuckles," with "Sonic" referring to Gibbs and "Knuckles" referring to Montgomery. Together, they are one of the best offensive duos in the league today.

However, this is just the start for Gibbs who is only coming into his prime years. Sanders has stated that he wouldn’t be surprised to see Gibbs become the league MVP soon. However, can the Detroit Lions capitalize on his talent and finally win a Super Bowl?

Can the Lions Bounce Back From A Disappointing Season?

After winning the NFC Championship game in 2023 and being the NFC’s No. 1 seed in 2024, missing the playoffs in 2025 was a massive shock for the Detroit Lions.

Now, General Manager Brad Holmes has to help put together a team that can take them to a championship this season.

Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports commented, “Like the Cowboys, the Lions’ high scoring offense struggled to make up for a lackluster defense in 2025. Also like Dallas, Detroit looked to remedy that issue this offseason.”

The Lions have signed defensive depth this offseason. However, having lost Taylor Decker and Quadin Muhammad in free agency, there will be a lot of pressure on the rookies this year. The standout is Derrick Moore, picked using the Lions' second-round pick.

“A local product who tallied 10.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and 10 tackles for loss during his final season at Michigan. Moore will look to pose a formidable duo with fellow defensive end Aidan Hutchinson,” said DeArdo.

The Lions will be looking to contend this season for the Super Bowl. But to do so, they would have to improve their defense, who were ranked 22nd in points per game, 18th in total defense, 14th in rushing defense, and 20th in passing defense.

It will be interesting to see if the changes to the roster this offseason will be enough to make the Lions a championship-winner again.

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Written by

Dhruv Vishnu Nair

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit