Jahmyr Gibbs set the NFL record for most touchdowns scored before age 25 on Sunday, reaching 58 career touchdowns during Detroit’s 45-21 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The Lions running back, born March 20, 2002, broke a mark previously held by Lions legend Barry Sanders.
Gibbs finished the game with 151 rushing yards, 56 receiving yards and two rushing touchdowns. He tied Sanders at halftime with a 1-yard rushing score in the second quarter, then passed him with another rushing touchdown later in the game, according to ESPN.
How Gibbs Broke The Record
Detroit built a 24-7 halftime lead behind Gibbs, who had 64 rushing yards on 12 carries and 48 receiving yards on four catches by the break, per Yahoo Sports. His tying score came on a short rushing touchdown in the second quarter. The record-breaking touchdown came later in the game on a rushing score that bounced off a defender before Gibbs turned it up the right sideline.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell praised the performance afterward. “Impressive. It’s very cool that it’s Barry’s record, too.
He’s got a lot of comparisons there. But he’s unbelievable. He really is.
We did a good job in the run game and still probably didn’t do as well as we could, and he made a lot of guys miss in the backfield,” Campbell said.
What The Gibbs Touchdown Record Means
Gibbs now has nine touchdowns through five games this season, seven rushing and two receiving, the most in the NFL at this point in the schedule. He is also chasing another milestone: LaDainian Tomlinson’s single-season record of 28 rushing touchdowns, set in 2006.
Detroit’s offense is averaging 32.8 points per game, the most in the league, and Gibbs has been central to that production. The Lions’ comfortable margin over Arizona gave Gibbs the room to add his record-breaking score in a game Detroit controlled from the opening half.
Gibbs’ Connection To Sanders
The milestone carries personal significance for Gibbs. He chose No. 20 at Dalton Junior High School in Georgia at age 12 specifically to honor Sanders, and he studied the Hall of Famer’s game through YouTube film. Sanders played for Detroit from 1989 to 1998 and remains one of the most celebrated running backs in franchise history.
Gibbs also became Detroit’s highest-drafted running back since the Lions selected Sanders in 1989, tying his career arc to Sanders’ even before Sunday’s record-breaking performance.
Sanders himself acknowledged the moment on social media. “Congrats Jahmyr Gibbs and the team. Awesome to see another @Lions have this record,” Sanders wrote.
Gibbs described the keys to his production after the game. “I feel pretty good. Guys are doing a great job blocking, receivers too down the field.
They make my job easier. I just try to hand over the leftovers,” Gibbs said.
What’s Next
Gibbs and the Lions will look to build on their 45-21 win as Detroit continues its push through the season with Gibbs pursuing Tomlinson’s single-season rushing touchdown record. For background on Detroit’s week leading into the Cardinals game, see Total Apex Sports’ Lions vs Cardinals preview. Detroit’s offensive success this season has come even as the team deals with other roster questions, including the Sam LaPorta contract situation and secondary injuries detailed in Total Apex Sports’ coverage of the Lions vs. Panthers matchup.
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