Jahmyr Gibbs is in legendary company, and only getting better

The Detroit Lions' offense is currently leading the NFL in points scored and offensive yards, boasting a No. 1 passer in Jared Goff, a Top 3 running back, and three receivers ranked in the league's Top 30. Yet, it is Jahmyr Gibbs who is capturing attention with a record-breaking season that rivals legendary players. On Sunday, Gibbs scored his 7th touchdown of the game, bringing his career total to an astounding 58 touchdowns, setting an NFL record for a player under 25 years old.

This record, previously held by Barry Sanders, is expected to remain unbreached for another 12 seasons as Gibbs won't turn 25 until March 2027. No player has reached 50 total touchdowns before their 25th birthday since Todd Gurley in 2018 and Maurice Jones-Drew in 2009. If Gibbs maintains his pace, he could surpass LaDainian Tomlinson's 2006 record-setting season, where he finished with 28 rushing touchdowns, and even eclipse Christian McCaffrey's 2018 all-purpose season, which included 2,392 yards from scrimmage and 19 touchdowns.

The 2023 running back class in the NFL is exceptional, with Gibbs joining two other elite backs in Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs, both poised to become the league's most dominant all-purpose players. This resurgence of running backs is a positive development for fans of smashmouth football, and their potential impact on their careers is limitless.