The NFL offseason just got a whole lot more interesting. David Montgomery, one of the most reliable running backs of his generation, is heading to Houston after the Detroit Lions agreed to send him to the Texans in a blockbuster deal that caught the league off guard — especially considering Montgomery publicly denied wanting out just 24 hours before the trade dropped.
Montgomery Denied It, Then Got Traded Anyway
The drama surrounding this deal started just one day earlier. A report surfaced suggesting Montgomery was actively seeking a fresh start away from Detroit. He took to social media to refute it, insisting the rumors were false. Less than 48 hours later, he was officially on his way to Houston. Whether Montgomery forced the issue behind the scenes or the Lions simply could not pass up the offer, the result is the same — a stunning exit from a franchise he helped carry to back-to-back deep playoff runs.
Montgomery spent three seasons in Detroit after signing a three-year, $18 million deal with the Lions in 2023. He followed that up with a two-year, $18.25 million extension in October 2024. By all appearances, he was a long-term fixture in the Motor City. But his role began to shrink dramatically as Jahmyr Gibbs emerged as the clear lead back. Montgomery had his fewest rushes and touches in a season last year, averaging just 9.3 rushes per game, a steep drop from the 14.4 rushes per game he averaged in his first two seasons with the Lions. He did not record more than 10 carries in any of Detroit’s final eight games of the season.
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A Fresh Start in Houston
David Montgomery now walks into a completely different situation in Houston. The Texans ranked 22nd in rushing yards per game last season and enter 2026 looking for a significant upgrade at the position. Montgomery immediately becomes the No. 1 back on the depth chart, a role he has not held outright since his final seasons with the Chicago Bears.
For his career, Montgomery has rushed for over 6,100 yards and 59 touchdowns across 105 regular-season games— numbers that put him in rare company among active rushers. He is one of just five players drafted since 2019 to surpass 6,000 rushing yards and 50 rushing touchdowns. Houston is betting that a motivated Montgomery, running behind a retooled offensive line, can bring the kind of physical, between-the-tackles presence the Texans offense has been missing.
What Detroit Gets in Return
The Lions did not walk away empty-handed. Detroit receives a 2026 fourth-round pick, a 2027 seventh-round pick, and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs— a package that addresses one of Detroit’s most glaring needs heading into 2026. The Lions ranked 30th in pass block win rate last season at 55.2 percen, and adding an experienced interior lineman helps fill that gap immediately.
Trading Montgomery also opens the door for Jahmyr Gibbs to take full ownership of the Lions backfield. Gibbs logged a career-high 320 touches last season and is clearly the future of Detroit‘s rushing attack. Montgomery’s departure frees up cap space to extend key pieces like Gibbs, Jack Campbell, and Brian Branch.
The Joe Mixon Question
With Montgomery now in the fold, Houston’s handling of Joe Mixon becomes the next storyline to watch. Mixon missed the entire 2025 season with a foot injury, and league sources widely expect the Texans to release him, saving roughly $8 million in cap space. It marks a swift and somewhat sad ending for a player who was once viewed as a cornerstone of Houston’s offense.
David Montgomery enters this new chapter at 28 years old, hungry for carries and eager to prove that his best football is still ahead of him. Houston is counting on exactly that.
