David Montgomery shut down reports he wanted out of Detroit, and then was traded to the Houston Texans just hours later in a stunning offseason twist
12:26 ET, 02 Mar 2026
Montgomery was selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft
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David Montgomery was selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft(Image: Getty)
David Montgomery was traded from the Detroit Lions to the Houston Texans just hours after publicly denying a report that he wanted out of Detroit.
On Sunday morning at the NFL Combine, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported, “At running back, the Lions’ David Montgomery wants out.” The report added that Detroit would seek “a decent Day 3 pick (possibly a fifth-rounder)” in return and noted that Montgomery was owed $6 million in 2026.
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Montgomery, whose rookie season depression was partially fueled by fantasy football, quickly responded on X, writing, “Damn, [D-Mo] told you that?” It was his first post on the platform since March 2024.
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The 28-year-old running back did not elaborate further, but the message was clear: the desire to leave had not come from him. Still, by Monday morning, a deal was finalized.
Houston acquired Montgomery in exchange for a fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick. Offensive lineman Juice Scruggs was also included in the package going back to Detroit.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio had been vocal at the Combine about improving the team’s rushing attack. In 2025, Houston averaged 108.9 rushing yards per game, ranking 22nd in the NFL. The team’s 3.9 yards per carry ranked 29th, while nine rushing touchdowns ranked tied for 27th.
On March 16, 2023, Montgomery signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Lions
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On March 16, 2023, Montgomery signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Lions(Image: Getty)
Montgomery joins a backfield that includes second-year running back Woody Marks, who totaled 911 yards from scrimmage during his rookie campaign. His arrival also casts doubt on the future of Joe Mixon, who missed the entire 2025 season due to injury and is entering the final year of his contract.
In Detroit, Montgomery had formed a productive tandem with Jahmyr Gibbs, nicknamed “Sonic and Knuckles.” Gibbs handled a career-high 320 touches in 2025, while Montgomery’s workload dropped to 182 touches. He finished the season with 158 carries for 716 yards and eight touchdowns.
The shift in usage fueled speculation about his happiness in Detroit, especially after he eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in 2023 before seeing his role reduced over the past two seasons.
Montgomery was traded to the Houston Texans in exchange for their fourth-round pick, a 2027 seventh-round pick, and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs
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Montgomery was traded to the Houston Texans in exchange for their fourth-round pick, a 2027 seventh-round pick, and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs(Image: Getty)
Lions general manager Brad Holmes acknowledged ongoing discussions last week, saying, “We love David. He’s a great player. We’d love to have him. Kind of want to put last year in the rear view and just move forward."
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"But, obviously, a player has to want to be in a certain place as well. So those conversations are still fluid, and we’re just trying to see how it goes.”
Whether Montgomery pushed for a change or not, the outcome was swift. He is under contract through the 2027 season, though none of the remaining money is guaranteed.
Montgomery entered the league as a third-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2019 and has rushed for 6,115 yards and 59 touchdowns across 105 regular-season games.