Reggie Bush is widely regarded as one of the greatest college football players of all time. After his run at USC, he also built an excellent NFL legacy, including a victory in Super Bowl 44. His ability to be a jack of all trades made him exceptionally dangerous on the field.
Bush’s combination of speed and agility made him extremely elusive from the backfield and as a pass catcher. For one analyst, a transformational player in the NFC fits the exact Bush archetype perfectly.
Does the NFL Have Reggie Bush 2.0?
Since coming into the league in 2023 as a first-round pick, Jahmyr Gibbs has changed the entire landscape of the Detroit Lions. Forming the Sonic and Knuckles pairing with David Montgomery, he powered the Lions to the best offense in the league on PFSN’s Offense+ metric.
His ability to function as both a running back and wide receiver allowed offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to get as creative as he wanted with his plays. Gibbs led the league in touchdowns with 20 scores while adding nearly 2,000 scrimmage yards in the 2024 season.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN ranked him third on their list of running backs entering the 2025 season, ahead of his draft mate, Bijan Robinson, and a former Offensive Player of the Year, Christian McCaffrey.
Gibbs became the first player to represent Detroit to lead the league in total scores in 34 years. The second-year back was spectacular in 2024, earning high praise from one AFC executive, as Fowler noted.
“He’s a lot like Reggie Bush, just with a little bit more power. Size will always be a little bit more of an issue with him, but his speed and instincts and ability to change the game are a problem and maybe the best in the league.”
With a minimum of 300 touches, Jahymr Gibbs averaged the most yards per touch in 2024 (6.4) since Marshal Faulk (6.6) in 2000
That’s actually INSANE 🤯
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— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔇𝔢𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔦𝔱 𝔗𝔦𝔪𝔢𝔰 📰 (@the_det_times) February 22, 2025
Despite his 5’9″ frame, Gibbs has a knack for making game-breaking plays while also posting the highest yards per touch (6.4) by a player with over 250 touches in a decade.
Could Jahmyr Gibbs Handle the Lion’s Share Without David Montgomery?
There are concerns that Detroit has to address with the Alabama product. “Gibbs can serve as a primary back but ‘might wear down faster’ if asked to absorb too many hits between the tackles due to size.”
Fowler noted that “Gibbs did just fine in three games without Montgomery late in the 2024 season, totaling 365 rushing yards on 64 carries.” That averages out to 5.7 yards per carry over those three games. So it shouldn’t be impossible for him to carry a heavier load, and Detroit will rely heavily on his explosiveness to turn games in their favor.
The Lions selected Gibbs No. 12 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Alabama. He rushed for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie while adding 316 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. His sophomore season saw him explode for 1,412 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns, plus 517 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.
Bush, by comparison, rushed for 565 yards and six touchdowns in his rookie season with New Orleans in 2006. He added 742 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns that year. Both players share that rare ability to line up anywhere on the field and create mismatches.
With both coordinators departing for head coaching gigs this offseason, Detroit may have to endure growing pains in 2025. Gibbs will be a significant factor in determining their success moving forward. The Lions lost Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to the Chicago Bears and New York Jets, meaning new offensive coordinator John Morton will need to maximize Gibbs’ unique skill set.
