To say that the Detroit Lions' season was disappointing would be a massive understatement. Offensive coordinator John Morton had some big shoes to fill after Ben Johnson's departure, and he wasn't up to the task.
Notably, David Montgomery's numbers probably suffered the most among the team's offensive stars. He took a backseat to Jahmyr Gibbs, and he was visibly frustrated by the uneven workload. It even looked like he was a no-brainer trade or cut candidate this offseason.
That may no longer be the case. Judging by his latest comments on Detroit's new offensive coordinator, Drew Petzing, it seems like Montgomery might not want to leave anymore. If anything, he sounds excited for what Petzing can bring to the table.
David Montgomery Sounds Excited About Drew Petzing
"I talked to him briefly. It’s pretty evident that he knows exactly what has to happen and he’s prepared for the task at hand, so it will be good to see what he implements in our offense and how we can improve," Montgomery told NBC Sports, per Lions reporter Will Burchfield of 97.1 The Ticket.
Montgomery is still under contract for another couple of years. According to Over The Cap, he's slated to make $5.5 million and $7.5 million in base salary for the next two seasons, with cap hits of $8.3 and $10.2 million, respectively. Given his age, the team might still consider moving on from him after the 2026 campaign, but they would be wise to run it back with him next season.
The Lions have arguably the best running back tandem in the game; they just needed a creative offensive mind who knows how to make the most of Montgomery and Gibbs. We've already seen how Montgomery can wear down defenses and open up big running lanes for the speedy and crafty Jahmyr Gibbs. Going away from that formula took a big toll on the Lions' offense.
All in all, Montgomery finished the season with 158 carries for 718 rushing yards on a respectable 4.5 yards per carry. He also had eight touchdowns but averaged only 42.1 rushing yards per game, his lowest mark since arriving in Detroit.
Montgomery didn't even reach 50 rushing yards in 12 games last season, and he had fewer than ten carries in nine games, so it's easy to understand his frustration. Now, however, with a new guy calling the shots, things might turn around for the veteran.