Jahmyr Gibbs set a new NFL record for the most touchdowns scored before the age of 25 during the Detroit Lions’ 45-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5. With two touchdowns on Sunday, Gibbs surpassed Hall of Famer Barry Sanders’ long-standing mark, moving to 58 career touchdowns before turning 25.
Gibbs entered the game with 56 touchdowns, one shy of Sanders' total. The first score came early in the second quarter on a one-yard run that capped a seven-play, 54-yard drive, tying the game at 7-7 after the Lions had punted on their previous four possessions.
His second touchdown broke the record in the fourth quarter. With the Lions comfortably ahead 38-14, Gibbs took a designed left run but quickly changed direction when confronted by a wall of defenders. He then sped to the right corner of the end zone, eluding the Cardinals’ defense in a move reminiscent of Sanders’ elusive running style. Although officially recorded as a three-yard run, Gibbs covered significantly more ground on the play.
Gibbs finished the game with 151 rushing yards on 25 carries and added 56 receiving yards on five catches, totaling over 200 yards from scrimmage. The Cardinals’ defense, ranked 23rd in the NFL for yards allowed and 20th against the run, struggled to contain him throughout the contest.
Since being drafted 12th overall by Detroit in 2023, Gibbs has emerged as the dual-threat back the Lions envisioned. His career totals now stand at 46 rushing touchdowns and 12 receiving scores, along with 4,044 rushing yards and 581 receiving yards. He currently ranks second in the NFL with 504 rushing yards and is tied for the league lead with seven total touchdowns this season.
The decision to draft Gibbs was initially met with skepticism. At the time, many across the NFL questioned the value of running backs selected in the first round, especially with the Lions having recently signed David Montgomery as their leading back. Four years later, those doubts have evaporated. Detroit rewarded Gibbs with a three-year, $67.5 million contract extension this offseason, making him the highest-paid running back in the league.
Gibbs still has 13 games left in the 2026-27 season before turning 25 next March, giving him ample opportunity to extend his record beyond Sanders and challenge other NFL legends like Randy Moss, Emmitt Smith, and Jim Brown. If his current averages of 14 rushing touchdowns and 4 receiving scores per season hold, Gibbs could establish a milestone that stands for decades.
According to Yahoo Sports.
