David Montgomery is here to stay in Detroit. Ahead of their Week 6 clash against the Dallas Cowboys, the Detroit Lions rewarded Montgomery with a two-year, $18.25 million contract extension, ensuring his presence in their backfield for years to come. The former Chicago Bears running back, who departed in 2023 due to a lack of success in Chicago, has found his groove in Detroit, which has fans and former teammates talking—including ex-Bear Tarik Cohen, who recently criticized Chicago’s GM Ryan Poles for letting Montgomery slip away.
Selected by Chicago in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Montgomery’s talent was never in question. However, the Bears’ lackluster performance wore on him, with Montgomery publicly expressing how losing drained his love for the game. When free agency hit, the Lions swooped in, offering him a three-year deal, now extended to solidify his place. Cohen, who briefly shared the field with Montgomery in 2019 before injuries led to his early retirement, voiced frustration over the Bears’ failure to keep Montgomery as part of their rebuilding plan.
Since joining Detroit, Montgomery has been instrumental in transforming the Lions’ run game, helping end their 31-season playoff drought and guiding them to last season’s NFC Championship game. Recently, he shared on the Up and Adams podcast the struggles he faced with fantasy football pressure, even admitting to experiencing suicidal thoughts but expressed how Detroit’s environment and his rapport with head coach Dan Campbell have restored his joy for the game.
The Lions have seen immense chemistry from Montgomery, who has formed a unique connection with rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Their “Sonic and Knuckles” dynamic has helped propel the Lions into the league’s top 20 rushing leaders, a testament to the supportive “misfit toys” mentality Montgomery says he loves. As he prepares to take on the Cowboys, Montgomery is more than ready to continue Detroit’s promising season, chasing yet another win with his new football family.
