David Montgomery Bio
David Montgomery is an American professional football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa State Cyclones before being selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Throughout his career, Montgomery has earned recognition for his physical running style, durability, and contributions to winning offenses in both Chicago and Detroit.
Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing approximately 229 pounds, Montgomery has built a reputation as a powerful between-the-tackles runner with reliable hands as a receiver. He has accumulated multiple postseason honors and a 1,000-yard rushing season, establishing himself as a respected veteran in the league.
Early Life and Background
David Montgomery was born on June 7, 1997, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He grew up in the Cincinnati area in a household shaped by economic hardship, raised primarily by his mother, who moved the family frequently in search of stability. Montgomery has spoken publicly about a difficult childhood, including periods when the family used the oven for heat and boiled water on the stove after utilities were disconnected.
He attended Mount Healthy High School in Ohio, where he starred as a dual-threat quarterback. Over four seasons, Montgomery rushed for 6,666 yards and 91 touchdowns. His senior-year total of 2,707 yards ranked 21st in Ohio high school history. In 2015, he was named the Division III Ohio Player of the Year and the Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year, posting seven 200-yard games and three 300-yard games, including a 373-yard performance.
During his time in Cincinnati, Montgomery also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America as part of Troop 772. He has since become an official Scouting America ambassador, an effort that led to him receiving the North Star Award on October 7, 2025, in Auburn Hills, Michigan, the highest honor given to a non-member for service to Scouting.
Path to American Football
Despite a record-breaking high school career, Montgomery was lightly recruited by major college programs. He drew interest from Miami (OH), Ball State, Buffalo, and Iowa State, eventually committing to the Cyclones. His college path would shape him into one of the most decorated running backs in program history.
As a true freshman in 2016, Montgomery played in all 12 games and started the final four contests. He led Iowa State in rushing with 563 yards and averaged 5.2 yards per carry, the second-best freshman rushing performance in school history. He was named the Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Week after a 169-yard performance against Kansas and earned honorable mention Freshman All-American honors from Campus Insiders.
Montgomery’s breakout came in 2017, when he led the nation in forced missed tackles with 104, breaking the previous record of 89 set by Dalvin Cook. He finished the season with 1,095 rushing yards and was a consensus first-team All-Big 12 selection and a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus. In 2018, he added 1,216 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, earning first-team All-American recognition for the second consecutive year.
David Montgomery Career
Early Career (2019)
The Chicago Bears drafted David Montgomery in the third round with the 73rd overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year rookie contract on June 14 and made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers. He scored his first career NFL touchdown in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos during a 16–14 Bears victory.
Montgomery recorded his first multi-touchdown game in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles and finished his rookie season with 889 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, 25 receptions, 185 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown. He quickly became a central figure in the Bears’ offensive game plan.
Chicago Bears Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Montgomery emerged as the Bears’ featured running back heading into the 2020 season. After a slow opening stretch, he produced his strongest stretch of games late in the year. In Week 14 against the Houston Texans, he opened the game with an 80-yard rushing touchdown, the fourth-longest run in Bears history and the team’s first opening-play touchdown since 1995. He followed that with a career-high 146 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15.
Montgomery finished the 2020 regular season with 1,070 rushing yards, ranking fifth in the NFL, along with eight rushing touchdowns, 54 receptions, 438 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns. He also earned the Brian Piccolo Award that year. In 2021, he posted 849 rushing yards and seven touchdowns before a knee sprain landed him on injured reserve. He returned to action later in the season and was ranked 98th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022. In 2022, he added 801 rushing yards and five touchdowns before departing Chicago, earning his second Brian Piccolo Award.
Detroit Lions Era (2023–Present)
On March 16, 2023, Montgomery signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Detroit Lions. He opened the 2023 season as the lead back and delivered 32 carries for 121 yards and three touchdowns in a Week 4 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Following a rib injury in Week 6, he returned two weeks later to share the backfield with rookie Jahmyr Gibbs.
Montgomery and Gibbs became the first pair of teammates in NFL history each to combine for 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns in the same season. Montgomery finished 2023 with 1,015 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 219 carries, plus 16 receptions for 117 yards, scoring in 11 different games. He helped lead Detroit to the NFC Championship Game, where the Lions fell to the San Francisco 49ers 34–31.
In 2024, Montgomery tied Billy Sims’ franchise record with his seventh consecutive game with a rushing touchdown. He suffered a medial collateral ligament injury in Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills, initially feared to be season-ending, but returned for the divisional round of the playoffs after seeking additional medical opinions. He finished 2024 with 775 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 185 carries, plus 341 receiving yards on 36 receptions. On October 12, 2024, he signed a two-year, $18.25 million extension with $10.5 million in new guaranteed money, keeping him in Detroit through the 2027 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Montgomery is best described as a powerful, contact-balanced runner who excels between the tackles and in short-yardage situations. He combines strong vision with the leg drive to break tackles, and he is a reliable receiver out of the backfield. In Detroit, he has complemented his game with veteran leadership, helping form a balanced tandem with the explosive Gibbs.
Notable Events and Milestones
Montgomery’s milestone moments include an 80-yard touchdown run against Houston in 2020, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards that same season for the first time in his career, and his historic 2023 pairing with Gibbs that produced the first-ever 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown duo in NFL history. He has also earned two Brian Piccolo Awards and two first-team All-American selections at Iowa State.
David Montgomery Career Wins
David Montgomery has produced multiple standout statistical seasons across college and the NFL. While specific game-by-game win totals vary by season, he has consistently contributed to winning efforts, including helping lead the Detroit Lions to the NFC Championship Game in 2023.
College Highlights
During his time at Iowa State, Montgomery earned two first-team All-American honors and was a consensus first-team All-Big 12 selection. He set the NCAA record for forced missed tackles in a season with 104 in 2017, surpassing the previous mark held by Dalvin Cook. He also led the Cyclones to multiple signature victories, including an upset win at No. 3 Oklahoma in 2017.
NFL Highlights
In the NFL, Montgomery’s most notable seasons include his 1,070-yard, eight-touchdown campaign in 2020 and his 1,015-yard, 13-touchdown season with Detroit in 2023. He has twice won the Brian Piccolo Award, in 2019 and 2022, and helped form one of the most productive running back duos in the league alongside Jahmyr Gibbs.
David Montgomery Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Montgomery was raised by his mother in Cincinnati, Ohio, after his father was largely absent during his upbringing. He has a brother who was incarcerated, an experience that has shaped his perspective on perseverance and second chances. After scoring touchdowns, Montgomery frequently holds up a V-sign in memory of a high school teammate and role model who was killed during a home invasion.
Personal Life
Montgomery and his girlfriend welcomed their first child, a son, on January 13, 2023. He is an official Scouting America ambassador and has been honored for his community service, including work with a young fan named Hunter Erb during his time at Iowa State. During the 2020 NFL season, Montgomery adopted a vegan diet and drew media attention in 2024 when he ate a carrot while his Detroit teammates celebrated a Thanksgiving win with turkey.
2025 Season Performance
David Montgomery enters the 2025 NFL season firmly entrenched as the veteran half of the Detroit Lions’ high-powered backfield alongside Jahmyr Gibbs. With two years remaining on his contract extension, Montgomery is expected to continue handling short-yardage and goal-line duties while mentoring Detroit’s young offensive core.
The Lions enter 2025 with championship aspirations after their NFC Championship Game appearance in 2023. Montgomery’s ability to balance power running with reliable pass protection will be a key piece of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s scheme, particularly in third-down and red-zone situations.
Following his recovery from a 2024 medial collateral ligament injury, Montgomery has reported in excellent condition and is poised for another productive campaign. His continued leadership and production will be central to Detroit’s pursuit of a Super Bowl title.