DETROIT — Sonic just picked up a whole lot of rings.

The Detroit Lions and running back Jahmyr Gibbs on Thursday reached a three-year, $67.5 million contract extension, according to an Instagram post from his agent, Todd France, ending the hold in that's prevented Gibbs from seeing the practice field in camp.

The deal makes Gibbs, who just turned 24 in March, the highest-paid running back in the NFL based on average annual value ($22.5 million). The deal is worth $51.5 million in new guaranteed money and can get up to $75.75 million with incentives, per Gibbs' agent. It tops the deal given to Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson earlier this week, which reset the running back market at three years, $66.75 million.

Prior to the extension, Gibbs had two years remaining on his rookie contract, which includes a fifth-year team option.

The signing is a relief to Lions coach Dan Campbell, who said after Robinson's signing that he was "anxious" to get Gibbs back on the field. Gibbs was not seen through any of the team's first three practices but made non-uniformed appearances at practice on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. On Thursday, even without a new deal done, Gibbs participated in walk-throughs with a full uniform on.

Now, the saga is over.

Lions general manager Brad Holmes took a massive swing — and drew a ton of criticism in the process — when he selected Gibbs with the No. 12 pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

Three years later, Gibbs has more touchdowns (49) through his first three seasons than any other player in NFL history, passing former Lions great Barry Sanders (47) for the lead in Week 16 of last season. Gibbs' 5,029 scrimmage yards are the eighth-most by a player before turning 24 years old.

He has made three Pro Bowls in as many seasons and will enter the 2026 season as the odds-on favorite for Offensive Player of the Year, according to several operators.

Last season, Gibbs won NFC Offensive Player of the Week twice (Weeks 10, 12). He finished with 18 total touchdowns, 1,223 rushing yards (5.0 per carry) and 616 receiving yards, becoming the eighth player in NFL history to have consecutive seasons with at least 1,800 scrimmage yards. Gibbs joined Sanders and Billy Sims as the only Lions running backs in the Super Bowl era to make at least three Pro Bowls.

In Detroit's Week 12 win over the Giants, Gibbs had his most electric showing yet. He had two explosive touchdown runs, a 49-yard house call in the fourth quarter to bring the Lions within a field goal, and a 69-yard touchdown run on the first play of overtime to give Detroit a 34-27 lead.

"You can tell the fear in the defense when he gets the ball in his hands, the way they rally to them," Lions quarterback Jared Goff said after the game.

In a Week 7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Gibbs scored the longest touchdown of his career, a 78-yard, untouched run up the middle in a win on Monday Night Football.

With Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love's positional value being a hot topic of conversation entering this year's draft, Campbell was asked at the NFL's annual league meetings in March whether he has any regrets about drafting a running back so high.

"No. We'd have taken him earlier. We would have taken him earlier," Campbell said, adding the believes Gibbs is just getting started.

"He can run all schemes. He can run inside, outside, pin and pull, the perimeters. But he's also — he can be lethal out of the backfield, and we're not even there yet. We feel like this guy can play some receiver," Campbell said.

"We tried to tinker with some stuff last year. He really grew, but I think we're just scratching the surface of some of that. He's a mismatch piece, man. He's dynamic, and he's a difference-maker. They don't come around often.”

The Arizona Cardinals apparently heeded Campbell's advice, taking Love No. 3 overall in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL draft.

What's next for Gibbs?

After sharing the workload with David Montgomery for their first two seasons together, Gibbs became the primary rusher in Detroit's backfield last season. The Lions then dealt Montgomery to the Houston Texans this offseason, officially turning the keys over to Gibbs.

Detroit signed Isiah Pacheco to backfill the RB2 role, but he isn't expected to receive a split workload with Gibbs, as Montgomery did in 2023 and 2024. Hence, why Gibbs is the favorite to win Offensive Player of the Year. Not only is Gibbs is expected to be the lead back, but Detroit also won't feel obligated to get Pacheco involved in the same way they did with Montgomery.

Though it was another Pro Bowl season for Gibbs in 2025, his raw numbers declined from a sensational 2024 season. The Lions' run game was explosive but extremely inconsistent following the retirement of Frank Ragnow and the hiring of offensive coordinator John Morton, among other factors.

The Lions made it a priority to rebuild the offensive line this season, signing center Cade Mays, adding some depth at guard, and drafting offensive tackle Blake Miller to replace Taylor Decker, who was granted his request to be released from the team. Detroit also filled its offensive coordinator vacancy with Drew Petzing, who did some excellent work with the Arizona Cardinals' run game during his three-year tenure as their OC.

And if he does have an even bigger role in the passing game, as Campbell alluded to, everything is on the table for Gibbs in 2026 and beyond.

Jahmyr Gibbs' stats

Career totals (49 games played)

— Rushing: 675 carries, 3,580 yards (5.3 yards per carry), 39 touchdowns

— Receiving: 228 targets, 181 receptions, 1,449 yards, 10 touchdowns

2025 (17 games played)

— Rushing: 243 carries, 1,223 yards (5.0 per carry), 13 touchdowns

— Receiving: 94 targets, 77 receptions, 616 yards, 5 touchdowns

2024 (17 games played)

— Rushing: 250 carries, 1,412 yards (5.6 yards per carry), 16 touchdowns

— Receiving: 63 targets, 52 receptions, 517 yards, 4 touchdowns

2023 (15 games played)

— Rushing: 182 carries, 945 yards (5.2 yards per carry), 10 touchdowns

— Receiving: 71 targets, 52 receptions, 316 yards, 1 touchdown

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