The entire NFL world just came to a standstill for a while on March 2nd, 2026, as the Detroit Lions traded David Montgomery to the Houston Texans.

Montgomery has said his goodbye as well.

Hours after the trade, the former Lions RB made a post on his Instagram account bidding farewell to the Lions and the fans.

It's safe to say that the Lions legend was at a loss for words.

"It's hard to find the right words for a goodbye like this. Detroit has never just been a location to me - it's been a community. And you all have been more than supporters or a team. You've been steady hands, loud cheers, honest feedback, and quiet strength when I needed it most. "

Montgomery's NFL journey didn't start with the Lions. The Bears originally selected him in the 2019 NFL Draft.

But then he joined the Lions in 2023, where he signed a three-year contract as an unrestricted free agent. Since then, it's been a historical run for both the running back and the Detroit Lions.

In 2023, the Lions won the NFC North for the first time in 30 years, and Montgomery had a big role in that.

He rushed for 1,015 yards and 13 touchdowns. In the post, David Montgomery said how special the people in Detroit were, highlighting their resilience, loyalty, and unwavering support.

He said he’s deeply grateful for how fans don’t just support their players, but truly ride with them every step of the way.

"This isn't goodbye because something ended. It's goodbye because something grew. And growth sometimes calls us forward," he further added.

The RB had recorded 562 carries for 2,506 yards and has scored 33 touchdowns in 45 games for the Lions in his career. And while the Lions tarded him for a 2026 fourth-round draft pick, a 2027 seventh-round draft pick, and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, he will forever be a Detroit Lion for the fans.

He concluded with:

"Please know this: Everything I do next carries a piece of Detroit with it.
The work ethic. The edge. The heart. Thank you for trusting me. Thanks for pushing me. Thank you for walking this chapter with me.
I'm beyond grateful - and I'll always be proud to say I was shaped by this city and by you. With appreciation and respect, Dmoe."

Jared Goff Joins NFL Fans In Bidding Farewell to David Montgomery

The Lions QB was present in the comment section of Montgomery's post. "The greatest," he commented.

In 2024, Montgomery became the first Lions back since Barry Sanders (1990) to have 10+ games with at least 50 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in a season.

Lions' WR Amon-Ra St. Brown couldn't help but comment, "Brother" with a red heart emoji. Even the official account of his podcast tweeted about the trade and called Montgomery the funniest guy to be on the show.

Another fan said, "We love you DMO! The way you played and represented this city was inspiring. You’ll always be one of my favorite Lions of all-time. Thank you for everything🙏"

There's no debating about what David Montgomery has done for Detroit.

He partnered with a Detroit nonprofit called The Yunion for a community coat drive, helping provide winter coats to children and families in need around Detroit. This is why the fans say, "Detroit forever love you 💙💙💙💙"

Even his RB partner, Jahmyr Gibbs, paid his respects on his Instagram story. He posted a picture of the video game characters Sonic the Hedgehog and Knuckles walking in opposite directions with a broken‑heart emoji over the image.

The RB duo was famously nicknamed “Sonic and Knuckles” during their time together in Detroit.

What do you think about this trade? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Reyansh Dubey

Edited by

Kalp Thaker