Eric Woodyard
DETROIT — A definite Southern drawl is commonly heard echoing throughout the Lions' Meijer Efficiency Middle.
Even on a uncommon evening session in early August, there's rarely a uninteresting second when Tashard Selection, Detroit's new operating backs coach, is on the follow area.
From the person portion of follow to one-on-ones and workforce drills, Selection is fired up — stuffed with reward and criticism for his unit, on every possession.
Whereas some gamers would possibly nonetheless be adjusting to his model, in his first season on the Lions' teaching employees, Professional Bowl operating again Jahmyr Gibbs is all too accustomed to his bubbly method and easy swagger. In truth, it is now regular.
“It means loads. We have been shut since I used to be 16 or 17. It is loopy as a result of I am 23 now and we simply ended up collectively,” Gibbs advised ESPN. “It is actually nice having a well-known face. Normally whenever you get new coaches, it is someone you do not know, so I did not wish to need to relearn that dude so having him, all people loves him within the constructing. He simply provides off power and nice vibes.
“If I am ever slacking off, he is gonna say one thing. It'll be fast, too, and he'll say it loud so all people can hear it. He all the time holds me accountable and all the time has, however that is what you must need.”
Gibbs and Selection had been first linked at Georgia Tech, the place Selection — who starred as a operating again from 2005 to '07 — recruited and coached Gibbs from 2020 to '21, earlier than the Lions operating again transferred to Alabama for the 2022 season. Gibbs counts Selection as one of many best influences on his soccer profession. And now that the 2 are reunited in Detroit, the coach has promised to drag much more out of a participant who, in a breakout second season, led the league in touchdowns (20) and emerged as one of many NFL's greatest offensive threats.
“After I noticed Jah, I knew he was totally different. For him to not attain the very best that he might be, I am dishonest him. I am dishonest all people who watches the sport of soccer. And for me, the sport of soccer then introduced me from the place I am from,” Selection mentioned. “It helped me and my household, and the way laborious he labored in faculty, and it is helped him and his household. However for him, that ain't adequate for us.
“I promise you all he cares about is successful. That is why he left Georgia Tech. He cares about successful,” Selection mentioned. “Within the meantime, I am letting him know, ‘You maintain an obligation for each child, all of your cousins, your loved ones, to be the very best.' And that is what he is going for. Like, I do not know what the tip going to be, however I do know if he stays wholesome and stays who he's and do not change so far as his mindset on the sport of soccer, canine, he can do no matter he needs to.”
FANS OF DALTON Excessive College in northwest Georgia had been witnessing historical past in August 2019. Within the midst of a 62-10 Catamounts win, Gibbs, the star operating again, was on the verge of breaking the varsity's single-game landing file.
And it was solely the third quarter.
“You've got seven [touchdowns], eight is the file … what do you wish to do?” operating backs coach Adam Martinez requested Gibbs.
“I am gonna get eight then I am gonna shut it down,” Gibbs responded.
Gibbs certainly scored his eighth TD to cap a 420-yard day — an space file — after which, true to his unassuming nature, quietly stayed on the sideline for the remainder of the sport.
“You'll suppose a man like that might be celebrating,” Martinez mentioned. “Nope, simply humbly quiet, sitting on the sideline, shakes your hand, tells you he loves you and goes again to work.”
In Detroit, Gibbs has remained equally low-key and unassuming — a direct distinction to the eye-catching velocity and electrifying play model that has drawn comparisons to Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer and former Lions nice Barry Sanders.
On a 70-yard landing towards the Tennessee Titans in Week 8 final season, Gibbs reached a max velocity of twenty-two.03 mph — the quickest high velocity that any Lions participant had reached as a ball provider since 2016, in accordance with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats. Over the previous two seasons, Gibbs has 148 offensive touches wherein he reached a max velocity of 15-plus mph, which is second most within the NFL behind Atlanta Falcons operating again Bijan Robinson (176) — one other Selection devotee from their time collectively at Texas, and who shall be throughout the sideline when Detroit visits Atlanta for his or her preseason recreation on Friday (7 p.m. ET).
As a result of Gibbs' consolation of retaining to himself, connecting with him on a private degree, particularly as a young person, wasn't straightforward for many faculty coaches all through the recruitment course of.
Gibbs, a late riser who ultimately grew to become the No. 2-ranked operating again within the nation, mentioned Selection set himself aside by recruiting him early within the course of and figuring out him as strictly a operating again — not a cornerback like different colleges had been doing on the time, because of his small stature (5-foot-9).
Moreover, Gibbs mentioned Selection drew from private experiences as a former NFL participant and faculty star to construct a bond. It additionally helped that, whereas a participant at Georgia Tech, Selection performed alongside a equally humble celebrity in eventual Corridor of Famer and Lions nice Calvin Johnson.
“He lived it. He began for the Dallas Cowboys and was an All-ACC operating again,” former Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins advised ESPN about Selection. “He is from the south facet of Atlanta, and he wears that with delight. He is real. He's actual. He connects with individuals from a real, emotional degree and folks know that they will belief him.
“That is one thing in life that after you have, there's only a few individuals on this world that you would be able to genuinely belief that their phrase is what they are saying it's, and Tashard is a type of individuals and he is actually good at what he does.”
Selection additionally emphasizes his religious reference to gamers, which has drawn him nearer to Gibbs and the remainder of the Lions operating backs room, together with David Montgomery, Craig Reynolds and Sione Vaki.
Being keen to show that vulnerability, alongside along with his educating, has helped him keep bonded along with his former gamers.
“The influence Coach Selection had on me, it wasn't simply private, it was a godly influence. I had him for one yr, my junior yr of faculty, and it was the very best one yr I had with a place coach simply because he was a giant brother to me,” mentioned Robinson, who was a consensus All-American and gained the Doak Walker Award in his lone season with Selection at Texas. “And he was a father determine for me. He simply set the instance for me, in so many alternative methods.
“He simply modified my perspective on soccer. He modified my perspective in life. And for someone to like someone so sturdy with out even understanding them but, I simply realized that is what Coach Selection delivered to me and for him, from day one, to take me beneath his wing and make me a man that he can belief and that I can belief, it was a right away simply love bond from two godly males instantly.”
LIONS HEAD COACH Dan Campbell launched his employees for the 2025 season in February. After hitting a record-setting 15-win mark in 2024, Detroit misplaced eight assistant coaches this offseason, together with coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn.
Campbell started focusing on Selection as early as 2022 as a possible addition to his employees.
“There was an opportunity I assumed I used to be going to lose [former Lions running backs coach [Duce [Staley] after the second yr and so he is someone that was on my radar, however it's simply that the timing wasn't proper,” Campbell mentioned. “And then you definitely type of maintain tabs on him, you watch him, all over the place he is been — definitely he is been at Texas now — you have a look at the backs that come out of there and what they're doing and the way in which they're coached.
“He simply understands tips on how to educate, tips on how to coach, tips on how to encourage, and so the timing was proper.”
Selection is now tasked with main a bunch headlined by a celebrity duo in Gibbs and Montgomery — nicknamed Sonic & Knuckles — who've turn out to be one of the vital profitable RB tandems in current NFL historical past.
Gibbs and Montgomery have every recorded at the least 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 scrimmage touchdowns in every of the previous two seasons. They're the primary operating again teammates in league historical past to every file at the least 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 scrimmage TDs in a number of seasons, consecutive or not, per ESPN Analysis.
Underneath Selection, in addition to new offensive coordinator John Morton, the Lions say they don't seem to be reinventing the wheel, however there's a likelihood they may assault defenses with each Gibbs and Montgomery on the sphere collectively.
They've put in some totally different packages, reminiscent of “Pony 21,” which consists of two operating backs on the sphere on the identical time.
“It is loopy as a result of with them being such nice teammates and them each being guys that is obtained the ‘needs' — which means they need the ball — they wish to be the man within the recreation,” Selection mentioned. “We have got some totally different stuff to verify each of them get an opportunity to get the soccer to run the soccer and be in there collectively, however the greatest factor that I attempt to preach to them is to take advantage of your alternatives.”
Paced by Gibbs and Montgomery, the Lions have a league-best 56 dashing touchdowns over the previous two seasons. The one different groups with greater than 50 dashing touchdowns in that span are the Buffalo Payments (54) and Philadelphia Eagles (51), and Detroit is not anticipating that manufacturing to drop off.
“[Former running backs coach] Scottie [Montgomery] did an excellent job of bringing every part out of us,” Montgomery mentioned. “However I feel with Coach Selection taking part in operating again and being a operating again, and with that being his predominant job, he is capable of present us various things or to evolve us to a different degree on the operating again place that we hadn't seen but.”
For Gibbs, it is not stunning that they've reached this degree collectively as he tries to assist push them towards his desired customary — greatness — and the franchise's first Tremendous Bowl title.
“Having these sorts of roots and people sorts of relationships, that is very distinctive actually,” Sanders mentioned. “So, for them to have the ability to try this, I do know it is particular for them and it is a mixture that is labored earlier than.
“In the event you have a look at what Jahmyr has been capable of do after which seeing Coach Selection with the ability to get employed on, we're on the lookout for even higher issues sooner or later. We're on the lookout for higher issues.”
