Jahmyr Gibbs just snagged NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, and honestly, it is getting hard to keep up with the guy. The Detroit Lions running back is not just racking up awards; he is straight up rewriting the record books, and he is doing it at an age that would make most veterans blush.
A Record-Setting Start to the Season
Week 5 was an absolute clinic. Gibbs powered through the Arizona Cardinals defense for 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the Lions’ dominant 45-21 win. He led the entire NFL last week with a staggering 207 scrimmage yards, showing everyone why he is quickly becoming a household name. But that performance was just the tip of the iceberg. Gibbs officially broke Barry Sanders’ record for most touchdowns by a player under 25 years old in NFL history. He’s got 58 career touchdowns already, which is one more than Sanders had before *his* 25th birthday. Gibbs doesn’t even turn 25 until next March! That’s just wild, isn’t it? Even Lions quarterback Jared Goff had to acknowledge it, saying, “Impressive. Very cool that it’s Barry’s record, too. A lot of comparisons there, but yeah, he’s unbelievable. He really is.” When the quarterback calls you “unbelievable,” you know you’re doing something right.
Chasing Greatness, Already Electric
This kid is an absolute force. Remember that record extension he signed in August for $51.5 million guaranteed? He’s making that look like an absolute steal already. Through just five weeks, Gibbs ranks fourth in the NFL with 504 rushing yards on 105 carries. But here’s the kicker: he leads the entire league with nine total touchdowns, seven of those coming on the ground. And he’s not content to stop there. After that Cardinals game, Gibbs dropped a bombshell, stating his goal is to break Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson’s touchdown record of 31, set way back in the 2006 season. “For sure. I’m trying to get that,” Gibbs declared. This isn’t just a fluke, either. This latest award marks his fourth career Offensive Player of the Week nod, previously winning it in Week 18 of the 2024 season and Weeks 10 and 12 in 2025. Goff summed it up best after the game, highlighting Gibbs’ versatility: “We did a good job in the run game and still probably didn’t do as well as we could, and he made a lot of guys miss in the backfield and got a lot after the first touch and obviously caught the ball well out of the backfield. I think he had what, [56] yards through the air. Gosh, he’s electric and I think you kind of saw the full scope of what we’re capable of.”
Gibbs is not just having a big season; he’s on a mission to put his name alongside the legends. With the kind of start he’s had, and his sights set on Tomlinson’s record, every single game is going to be must-watch. Can he actually do it? We’re all gonna find out together.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply