When the Detroit Lions signed David Montgomery during 2023’s free agency period, the move felt bold—a declaration that the franchise saw it necessary to improve their stable of running backs. After all, Jamaal Williams, a fan favorite and productive runner in his own right, led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (17) and seemed to be experiencing a career renaissance in Detroit. Some questioned if Montgomery would be worth the price—three years and $18 million—and some wondered if he would be an appreciable upgrade over Williams.
It didn’t take long to see how Montgomery represented an evolutionary step and productive leap in Detroit’s running game. Alongside rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, the two formed one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL. Just a little over a year into into his time with the Lions, Montgomery was given an extension, but it was more than just a financial reward: it was a firm commitment that the Lions viewed him as a focal point to their offense.
The fallout from the 2025 season, however, led us to today.
Brad Holmes’ end-of-the-year press conference certainly stirred the rumor mill. Some Super Bowl media rounds and a courtside appearance of Montgomery at a Pistons game breathed life into him sticking around. Jeremy Fowler’s report Sunday that Montgomery was seeking a trade was met with the running back’s first tweet in two years.
And after all that, maybe that’s what makes the reported trade to the Houston Texans so jarring. In a league where running backs are often viewed as interchangeable, Montgomery felt like more than that in Detroit. From national analysts largely questioning the price paid by the Texans to teammates expressing surprise and appreciation on social media, the response to the deal was immediate and loud after an offseason of breadcrumbs and whiplash.
Here are some of Montgomery’s teammates immediate reaction to the news of his trade to Houston:
And here are some of the reactions from analysts:
Lastly, some chatter about the Denver Broncos being a team that might have been involved in trade talks with Detroit:
Finally, Montgomery himself offered a powerful message and goodbye to Detroit over on Instagram:
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