Detroit Lions, RB David Montgomery agree to contract extension through 2027

The Detroit Lions signed David Montgomery to be the tone-setter on their offense two years ago . He played the role so well they’re doing it again.

Montgomery signed a two-year contract extension with the Lions on Saturday that will keep him in Detroit through the 2027 season.

The deal, which took less than two weeks to negotiate, is worth $18.25 million and includes $10.5 million guaranteed. Montgomery, 27, led the Lions with 1,015 yards rushing last season and has teamed with Jahmyr Gibbs to give the team one of the best running back tandems in the NFL.

The Lions currently rank seventh in the league in rushing at 151.3 yards per game, and Montgomery has delivered big plays in each of the past two games. In the Lions’ Week 4 win over the Seattle Seahawks, he broke three tackles to turn a short pass into a 40-yard gain in the third quarter that offensive coordinator Ben Johnson said was the springboard to the team’s big second half.

“You talk about our poor third quarters, when you have a play like that to start off our third quarter, I mean, you know we’re just going to start rolling from there,” Johnson said. “From D-Mo to (Taylor) Decker to the skill guys blocking down the field, that was really impressive to watch.”

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Lions coach Dan Campbell said plays like those have endeared Montgomery to the team.

“I mean this guy is unbelievable, he is,” Campbell said. “I would never not block for that guy, ever because the play is never over with him. It’s just not, it is not over. He’ll keep any play alive. He’s a strong runner. He can will himself to make things happen, and he’s tough, he’s relentless, he’s resilient, he’s everything you want in a back.”

Montgomery had one year left on the three-year, $18 million deal he signed with the Lions as a free agent in 2024.

By locking him up through 2027 the Lions will have their two leading rushers — and most of the key pieces on their offense — under contract the next three years.

This offseason, the Lions signed quarterback Jared Goff, right tackle Penei Sewell and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to long-term extensions.

Gibbs has two years left on the contract he signed as the 12th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, but the Lions have a fifth-year option on his contract as a first-round pick.

Dave Birkett will sign copies of his new book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline" at 2 p.m., Oct. 19, at La Dona Cerveceria in Minneapolis.

Order your copy here.

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions, RB David Montgomery agree to contract extension through 2027