Man, Jahmyr Gibbs is a lightning bolt in a bottle. If you watched the Detroit Lions wrap up their 2025 season against the Chicago Bears on January 4, 2026, you saw a guy who just refuses to go down easy. Honestly, looking at the box score is one thing, but seeing the way he moved in that 19-16 win tells a much deeper tale about where this offense is headed.
Jahmyr Gibbs rushing yards last game clocked in at exactly 80 yards on 19 carries.
That might not sound like a "nuclear" performance compared to his 219-yard explosion against the Giants earlier in the year, but context is everything in the NFL. The Lions weren't just playing for pride; they were trying to snap a brutal three-game skid that had effectively nuked their playoff hopes. Gibbs was the engine. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry, which is solid, blue-collar work, but he also chipped in as a receiver, snatching three balls for 33 yards and a crucial 15-yard touchdown.
He's basically the ultimate "Swiss Army Knife" for Dan Campbell.
Breaking Down the Ground Game in Chicago
The Soldier Field turf is notoriously hit-or-miss, and in early January, it’s usually more "miss." Yet, Gibbs looked shifty.
The Jahmyr Gibbs rushing yards last game were earned the hard way—between the tackles and on those signature sweeps that make defenders look like they’re running in sand. He didn't have a massive breakaway run (his longest was 14 yards), but he kept the chains moving. That’s what Detroit needed. They needed a closer.
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You’ve gotta realize that earlier in December, Gibbs was struggling. Hard. He had a stretch where he couldn't crack 50 yards to save his life. Against the Vikings on Christmas, he had a measly 41 yards and a fumble that felt like a gut punch. Then the Steelers game? Seven carries for two yards. Total disaster. So, seeing him bounce back with 80 yards on the ground and 113 total yards from scrimmage in the finale was a huge sigh of relief for fans and fantasy managers alike.
A Quick Look at the 2025 Season Totals
If you’re a stat nerd, the final 2025 regular season numbers for Gibbs are pretty wild:
- Total Rushing Yards: 1,223
- Rushing Touchdowns: 13
- Average Yards Per Carry: 5.1
- Receptions: 77 (A career-best, by the way)
- Receiving Yards: 616
- Total Scrimmage Touchdowns: 18
It’s actually kinda crazy. Despite the Lions missing the postseason, Gibbs finished with over 1,800 yards from scrimmage. He’s now the first player since the merger to hit these kinds of specific dual-threat benchmarks in his first three seasons.
What Really Happened with the Lions' Backfield?
People always ask why David Montgomery still gets so much work. It’s a fair question. Honestly, it’s because Ben Johnson (the Lions' Offensive Coordinator) loves that "Thunder and Lightning" dynamic.
In the last game, Gibbs handled the bulk of the work with 19 carries, but the distribution throughout the season has been a roller coaster. When Montgomery was healthy, Gibbs usually hovered around 12-15 carries. But when the Lions needed to get creative or when they were playing from behind, Gibbs was the one staying on the field for 60% of the snaps.
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He’s just too explosive to sit.
The misconception is that Gibbs is "just a fast guy." If you watch the tape from the Bears game, you see him lowering his shoulder. He’s 202 pounds of muscle, and he’s learned how to finish runs. That's why his Jahmyr Gibbs rushing yards last game matter so much—it proved he could be a workhorse even when the big 70-yard home run play isn't there.
The Impact of the Offensive Line
We can't talk about Gibbs without mentioning the big guys up front. Penei Sewell and the rest of that unit had a weird year. They were dominant early, but injuries to the interior slowed down the run game in December.
By the time the Chicago game rolled around, they seemed to have found their rhythm again. You could see the holes opening up just a split second faster, allowing Gibbs to hit the second level before the linebackers could fill the gaps. Without that elite line play, those 80 yards probably look more like 40.
Looking Toward the 2026 Season
So, where do we go from here?
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Jahmyr Gibbs is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal in 2026, and he is officially "The Guy" in Detroit. The 1,223 rushing yards he put up this year were a slight dip from his 2024 campaign (where he had 1,412), but his involvement in the passing game skyrocketed. He’s basically becoming Christian McCaffrey-lite.
If you’re looking at his future value, keep an eye on his "touches per game" rather than just the rushing yards. The Lions are becoming more pass-heavy, and Gibbs is the primary beneficiary of those short dump-offs and screen passes.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the target share: Gibbs isn't just a running back anymore. He's a hybrid. If he's getting 5+ targets a game, the rushing yardage is just a bonus.
- Monitor the O-line health: His production is directly tied to the health of Detroit's front five. When they struggle, he struggles.
- Appreciate the consistency: Even in a "down" game like the season finale, he still managed over 100 yards of total offense and a score.
Jahmyr Gibbs is a special talent. Whether he's breaking ankles in the open field or grinding out four yards on a cold afternoon in Chicago, he’s the heartbeat of that Detroit offense. The Jahmyr Gibbs rushing yards last game might not have broken any records, but they proved that even when the season is lost, No. 0 is still going to give you everything he's got.
The next step for anyone following Gibbs is to track the Lions' offseason moves regarding their backfield depth. If they let veteran contributors walk, expect Gibbs’ volume—and his statistical ceiling—to reach even more absurd heights in 2026.