TheDetroit Lionshave handedDavid Montgomerya one-way ticket out of the Motor City.
It came a week ahead of the unofficial start of free agency, when theLions agreed to trade the running back to the Houston Texans on March 2. The move ends a three-year run in Detroit, where Montgomery starred alongsideJahmyr Gibbsas part of arguably the league's best backfield duo – officially known as "Sonic and Knuckles."
Hours after the news broke, Montgomery bid farewell to the Lions in anemotional tribute posted to his Instagram:
"It's hard to find the right words for a goodbye like this," Montgomery wrote. "Detroit has never just been a location to me – it's been a community. And you all have been more than supporters or a team. You've been steady hands, loud cheers, honest feedback, and quiet strength when I needed it most.
"You believed in me when things were uncertain. You stood beside me through challenges. You showed up – consistently, fiercely, unapologetically. There is something special about the people here. The resilience. The loyalty. The way you don't just support someone – you ride with them. I have felt that from each of you, and I will never take that lightly.
"This isn't goodbye because something ended. It's goodbye because something grew. And growth sometimes calls us forward. Please know this: Everything I do next carries a piece of Detroit with it. The work ethic. The edge. The heart. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for pushing me. Thank you for walking this chapter with me.
"I'm beyond grateful – and I'll always be proud to say I was shaped by this city and by you."
Gibbs also shared a post on social media, posting a photo of Sonic and Knuckles walking away from one another, crying. He captioned it with a broken-heart emoji.
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NFL mock draft: First-round projection following the scouting combine
Montgomery's workload took a major hit in 2025 as the running back posted a career-low 158 carries, sparking trade rumors ahead of the offseason.
General manager Brad Holmes told reporters at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine that Montgomery's future with the Lions was "fluid."
"We'd love to have him. Kind of want to put last year in the rearview and just move forward," Holmes said at a Feb. 24 media availability. "But obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. So those conversations are still fluid and we'll just kind of see how it goes."
On March 1,Montgomery addressed the rumors on social media after ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reportedthe running back wanted out of Detroit. He dismissed them, but didn't elaborate. He previously mentioned his desire to stick around with the Lions.
Ahead of Super Bowl 60, Montgomery told USA TODAY Sports that he hoped to return to Detroit in 2026.
"I sure hope so," Montgomery said, when asked if he was confident about a return to the Lions. "I love the Lions, I love the team, I love the city of Detroit. I would love to be there, but it's in the air so I'm just ready and waiting for the ride."
Now that ride has taken him to Houston, where he figures to sit atop theTexans' running back depth chart heading into the 2026 season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:David Montgomery shares goodbye post to Lions after trade to Texans
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