Tashard Choice: The Coach Elevating Jahmyr Gibbs and the Lions

In the Detroit Lions’ training center, a distinctive Southern accent is often heard. Tashard Choice, the team’s new running backs coach, creates a vibrant atmosphere in every practice session. From individual practices to one-on-one confrontations and team exercises, Choice is enthusiastic, offering both praise and constructive criticism to his unit on every play. While some players are still adapting to their style, star running back Jahmyr Gibbs, already familiar with Choice’s energetic approach and natural confidence, enjoys this dynamic. For Gibbs, this connection is fundamental.

It means a lot. We’ve been close since I was 16 or 17 years old. It’s incredible because now I’m 23 and we ended up together. It’s really cool to have a familiar face. Usually when new coaches come in, it’s someone you don’t know, so I didn’t want to have to re-learn that guy, so having him, everyone loves him in the building. He just exudes energy and good vibes. If I ever slack off, he’ll say something. He’ll be quick too, and he’ll say it loud so everyone can hear it. He always holds me accountable and always has, but that’s what you should want.

Jahmyr Gibbs

The connection between Gibbs and Choice goes back to Georgia Tech, where Choice recruited and coached Gibbs between 2020 and 2021. Gibbs considers Choice one of the biggest influences on his football career. Now, reunited in Detroit, the coach aims to get even more out of a player who, in his second season, led the league in touchdowns and established himself as one of the biggest offensive threats in the NFL.

When I saw Jah, I knew he was different. If he doesn’t reach the best he can be, I’m cheating him. I’m cheating everyone who watches the game of football. And for me, the game of football brought me from where I come from. It helped me and my family, and how hard he worked in college, and it helped him and his family. But for him, that’s not enough for us. I promise you that he only cares about winning. That’s why he left Georgia Tech. He cares about winning. Meanwhile, I’m letting him know: ‘You have an obligation to every child, all your cousins, your family, to be the best’. And that’s what he’s looking for. I don’t know what the end will be, but I do know that if he stays healthy and continues to be who he is and doesn’t change his mindset about the game of football, dog, he can do whatever he wants.

Tashard Choice

In August 2019, fans of Dalton High School in Georgia witnessed a historic moment. Gibbs, the star running back, was about to break the school record for touchdowns in a single game, and it was only the third quarter. After scoring his eighth touchdown, Gibbs capped off a 420-yard day, a record in the area, and with his characteristic humility, remained quiet on the bench for the rest of the game. In Detroit, Gibbs has maintained a similarly discreet attitude, contrasting with his striking speed and electrifying playing style that has drawn comparisons to Lions legend Barry Sanders. In a 70-yard touchdown against the Tennessee Titans in Week 8 of last season, Gibbs reached a top speed of 22.03 mph, the fastest reached by a Lions player since 2016. In the last two seasons, Gibbs has had 148 offensive touches in which he reached a top speed of over 15 mph, the second most in the NFL, only surpassed by Bijan Robinson of the Atlanta Falcons. Due to Gibbs’ reserved personality, connecting with him on a personal level, especially during his adolescence, was not easy for most college coaches during the recruitment process. Choice stood out for recruiting Gibbs early, identifying him as a pure runner, rather than a cornerback as other schools did. In addition, Choice relied on his own experiences as a former NFL player and college star to build a connection. The Lions’ head coach, Dan Campbell, presented his coaching staff for the 2025 season in February. After achieving a record of 15 wins in 2024, Detroit lost eight assistant coaches in the offseason, including coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn. Campbell began considering Choice as early as 2022 as a possible addition to his team. Choice is now tasked with leading a group headed by the stellar duo Gibbs and Montgomery, nicknamed “Sonic & Knuckles”, who have become one of the most successful running back duos in recent NFL history. Gibbs and Montgomery have each recorded at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns in the last two seasons. They are the first running back teammates in league history to each record at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns in multiple seasons, consecutive or not, according to ESPN Research. With Choice and new offensive coordinator John Morton, the Lions say they aren’t reinventing the wheel, but there’s a chance they’ll attack defenses with Gibbs and Montgomery on the field together. They have installed some different packages, such as “Pony 21”, which consists of two runners on the field at the same time.

It’s crazy because being such good teammates and both being guys who have the ‘wants,’ meaning they want the ball, they want to be the guy in the game. We have some different things to make sure they both get a chance to get the ball to run and be together, but the most important thing I try to preach to them is to make the most of their opportunities.

Tashard Choice

Driven by Gibbs and Montgomery, the Lions have the most rushing touchdowns in the league over the last two seasons, with 56. Detroit does not expect that production to decrease. For Gibbs, it’s not surprising that they have reached this level together as he tries to help them reach their desired standard: greatness, and the first Super Bowl title for the franchise. The connection between Gibbs and Choice promises an exciting future for the Detroit Lions.