One of the more notable decisions made this offseason by Brad Holmes, the general manager of the Detroit Lions, was sending running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. In return, Detroit received offensive lineman Juice Scruggs along with a fourth-round selection in the 2026 draft and a seventh-round pick in 2027.
Montgomery spent three seasons in Detroit after originally joining the team from the division rival Chicago Bears. During his time with the Lions, he produced 2,506 rushing yards and scored 33 touchdowns on the ground. However, his role changed during the 2025 campaign as the Lions began relying more heavily on Jahmyr Gibbs.
As Gibbs’ involvement in the offense increased, Montgomery’s opportunities declined. In 2025 he finished with just 158 rushing attempts and 716 yards, both the lowest totals of his career. That season ended with Detroit posting a 9–8 record but falling short of the playoffs. Reports also indicated that Houston was one of the destinations Montgomery preferred.
While appearing on the Lions Collective podcast, Holmes explained that the shift in Montgomery’s role played a major part in the team exploring a trade.
Holmes noted that it had become clear the running back’s touches were decreasing, largely because Gibbs had taken on a bigger role in the offense. According to Holmes, discussions between the team, Montgomery, and his representation were open and constructive. Shortly after the season ended, both sides agreed it might be best to see whether Detroit could secure a fair return in a potential deal.
Holmes emphasized that the decision was handled professionally and without tension between the organization and the player. He acknowledged that Montgomery’s departure meant losing more than just a productive runner, pointing out the leadership and locker-room presence the veteran brought to the team’s culture. Even so, Holmes said the conversations remained positive throughout and ultimately resulted in an outcome that benefited both sides.
Despite seeing fewer opportunities last season, Montgomery remains confident in his abilities as he begins the next chapter of his career.
Speaking after the trade, Montgomery explained that while many people label him strictly as a power runner, he believes his skill set is much broader than that. Rather than making bold claims about what he can do, he said he prefers to demonstrate it on the field.
With Houston, Montgomery is expected to compete for a prominent role in the backfield and hopes to prove the Texans made the right decision by bringing him in.
Now entering his eighth NFL season, Montgomery believes he is still performing at a high level physically. He said he takes his conditioning seriously and works intensely during the offseason, which he feels prepares him to handle a heavy workload if needed.
