Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs passed Hall of Famer Barry Sanders on Sunday for the most touchdowns by any NFL player before turning 25. Gibbs scored twice in a 45-21 win over the Arizona Cardinals to reach 58 career touchdowns, ESPN and USA Today’s Lions Wire report.
The record-setting game
Gibbs finished with 151 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on 25 carries, plus five catches for 56 yards, according to USA Today. The record-breaking score came with 5:03 left in the fourth quarter, when he bounced off a defender and reversed field up the right side, ESPN reports. It pushed Detroit’s lead to 45-14.
Sanders congratulated him on X: “Awesome to see another @Lions have this record.” ESPN says Gibbs picked No. 20 as a junior high player in Georgia in honor of Sanders. Quarterback Jared Goff called Gibbs “unbelievable” and said it is “very cool that it’s Barry’s record, too.”
A fast start to the season
Through five games, Gibbs has 504 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, plus 243 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. His nine touchdowns are the most in the NFL, according to ESPN. He told reporters he is “for sure” chasing LaDainian Tomlinson’s single-season record of 28 rushing touchdowns, set in 2006.
USA Today adds that Gibbs became the first Lions player to post 75 or more scrimmage yards and a touchdown in each of the team’s first five games. The Lions are 3-2 and have a bye week before hosting the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field on Oct. 25.
Sources: ESPN and USA Today Lions Wire, Oct. 11-12, 2026. Featured image is an editorial illustration, not a photo of the game or any player.
