Player
David Montgomery
RB
61 career rushing TDs from a 3rd-round pick is a top-tier return on investment — it places Montgomery in rare company among modern RBs who were not first-round selections.
7-year career, 6,357 rushing yards, 61 rush TDs. The DET workhorse alongside Jahmyr Gibbs.
MilestoneCareer regular-season totals
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Carries | 1,535 |
| Rush Yards | 6,357 |
| Rush TDs | 61 |
| Y/Att | 4.14 |
| Receptions | 237 |
| Rec Yards | 1,935 |
Why it matters. 61 career rushing TDs from a 3rd-round pick is a top-tier return on investment — it places Montgomery in rare company among modern RBs who were not first-round selections.
Two 1,000+ rush-yard seasons (2020 CHI, 2023 DET). Career-high 15 rush TDs in 2023.
TrendMontgomery production by year
| Year | Tm | Yds | TDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | CHI | 889 | 6 |
| 2020 | CHI | 1,101 | 8 |
| 2021 | CHI | 849 | 7 |
| 2022 | CHI | 801 | 5 |
| 2023 | DET | 1,198 | 15 |
| 2024 | DET | 803 | 12 |
| 2025 | DET | 716 | 8 |
Rushing yards by year
| Season | Yards |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 889 |
| 2020 | 1101 |
| 2021 | 849 |
| 2022 | 801 |
| 2023 | 1198 |
| 2024 | 803 |
| 2025 | 716 |
Why it matters. The back-to-back TD explosions in Detroit (15 then 12) show the team's offensive scheme elevated his scoring output far beyond what his yardage totals suggest — goal-line role locking in.
CHI (4 yrs): 3,640 rush yds, 26 TDs. DET (3 yrs): 2,717 rush yds, 35 TDs. The DET TD rate is 2x the CHI rate.
SplitMontgomery CHI vs DET
| Era | Rush Yds | TDs | TD/carry |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHI 2019-22 | 3,640 | 26 | 2.8% |
| DET 2023-25 | 2,717 | 35 | 5.8% |
Why it matters. A near-doubling of TD-per-carry rate when changing teams is rare and reflects a deliberate offensive design — the Lions deploy him as a short-yardage finisher, maximizing his value in a way Chicago never did.
5.8% TD-per-carry since joining DET — 3rd-best among all RBs with 300+ carries since 2023.
AnomalyTD rate leaders (RBs, 300+ carries, 2023-25)
| Player | TDs | Carries | TD% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raheem Mostert | 20 | 324 | 6.2% |
| Jahmyr Gibbs | 44 | 718 | 6.1% |
| David Montgomery | 35 | 608 | 5.8% |
| Gus Edwards | 17 | 319 | 5.3% |
| Derrick Henry | 47 | 954 | 4.9% |
Why it matters. Outpacing Derrick Henry in TD-per-carry efficiency over a 3-year window signals that Montgomery's goal-line role in Detroit is elite-level by NFL standards, not just a role-player quirk.
DET timeshare math: alongside Gibbs (also 1,000+ yd guy), Montgomery still managed 12-15 TDs in 2 of 3 DET years.
AnomalyDET RB room (Mont + Gibbs)
| Year | Mont TDs | Gibbs TDs |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 15 | 13 |
| 2024 | 12 | 18 |
| 2025 | 8 | 13 |
Why it matters. Dual-RB offenses typically cannibalize TD opportunities — the Lions generated enough red-zone volume that both backs exceeded 10 TDs in 2023, an extremely rare outcome for a timeshare backfield.
#2 in his 2019 draft class for career rush TDs — a 3rd-rounder trailing only 1st-rounder Josh Jacobs.
Comparison2019 RB class career rush TDs
| Player | Round | Rush TDs |
|---|---|---|
| Josh Jacobs | 1st | 75 |
| David Montgomery | 3rd | 61 |
| Tony Pollard | 4th | 34 |
| Devin Singletary | 3rd | 33 |
Why it matters. Finishing 14 TDs behind the consensus best RB in the class while being a 3rd-round pick is strong draft value — every other 2019 RB is more than 27 TDs behind Montgomery.
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