Lions’ new RBs coach Tashard Choice excited to work with Jahmyr Gibbs: ‘I’ll push him harder than ever’
This marks Tashard Choice’s first season coaching running backs for the Detroit Lions, but his admiration for Jahmyr Gibbs isn’t new.
Gibbs, a Pro Bowler in both of his NFL seasons so far, has dazzled fans and earned plenty of praise—including from his new coach.
Choice is convinced that Gibbs hasn’t reached his ceiling yet and is committed to helping him reach his full potential.
“The limit doesn’t exist for him,” Choice recently told team reporter Tim Twentyman. “I’m going to drive him. I’ll push him harder than anyone else. I need to.”
In 2024, Gibbs impressed with 1,412 rushing yards and a league-best 16 rushing touchdowns, plus 1,929 total yards and four receiving scores.
A first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Gibbs quickly became a force in Detroit, pairing with David Montgomery to create one of the top RB duos, dubbed Sonic and Knuckles. When Montgomery was injured late last year, Gibbs shifted into high gear.
With Montgomery sidelined, Gibbs took over as the lead back and flourished. Over the last three regular season games, he racked up 365 rushing yards and five touchdowns, surpassing 100 yards in each contest.
“I’ve watched Jah from afar the last few years,” said Choice, who played RB in the NFL from 2008–2013. “Because of Shep and Jah, I kept tuning into Lions games every week.”
Now that he’s coaching Gibbs directly, Choice is fully committed to helping an already elite back elevate even further as he enters the prime of his career at just 23.
“Seeing how smart and instinctive he is—I tell him he’s one of the most intelligent backs I’ve worked with,” Choice said. “Now that I’m coaching him, I’ll be pushing him even more.”
Gibbs averaged 5.6 yards per carry in 2024 and had 52 receptions for a second straight year, this time adding nearly 200 more receiving yards. He proved he can handle both big plays and a heavy workload.
Though Gibbs already delivered a standout season, Choice insists there’s still more to come—and he’s determined to help the Lions’ young star get there.