Gibbs grew up in Dalton, Georgia, and attended Dalton High School.[2] He rushed for 897 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore and 1,431 yards and 20 touchdowns in his junior season.[3] As a senior, Gibbs led the state with 2,554 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns and was named first team all-state, the Georgia 6-A 2020 Offensive Player of the Year and a first team All-American by Sports Illustrated.[4][5] He was also invited to play in the 2020 All-American Bowl.[6] Gibbs finished his high school career with 4,882 rushing yards and 70 touchdowns.[7]
After missing the Yellow Jackets' season opener, Gibbs made his collegiate debut the following week against UCF and returned the opening kickoff 75 yards. He finished the game with 219 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Freshman of the Week.[11][12] Gibbs scored at least one touchdown and five total touchdowns in his first three collegiate games. He finished the season with 89 carries for 460 yards and four touchdowns, 24 receptions for 303 yards and three touchdowns, and eight kickoff returns for 205 yards and was named honorable mention All-ACC as a return specialist.[13]
Alabama
Gibbs transferred to the University of Alabama to play for the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2022.[14] On October 1, in a victory over #20 Arkansas, he had 18 carries for 206 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.[15] In the following game, a victory over Texas A&M, Gibbs had 21 carries for 154 rushing yards.[16] In the next game, a 52–49 loss to #6 Tennessee, he had 24 carries for 103 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.[17] In the 2022 season, Gibbs finished with 151 carries for 926 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns to go with 44 receptions for 444 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.[18]
In Gibbs' rookie season, he teamed up with fellow running back David Montgomery to create the tandem described as a "two-headed monster" by Lions head coach Dan Campbell. The duo was given the nicknames "Sonic" and "Knuckles", nicknamed after the characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. Gibbs, aka "Sonic" because of his speed, and Montgomery, tabbed as "Knuckles" for his strength.[23]
Gibbs made his NFL debut in the 2023 NFL Kickoff Game, where he rushed for 42 yards and received for two more as the Lions defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 21–20.[24] He scored his first career touchdown on a 21-yard run in a Week 7, 6–38 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.[25] The following week, on Monday Night Football against the Las Vegas Raiders, he rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown from 26 carries while also taking five receptions for 37 yards as the Lions won 26–14.[26] Following the bye week, in a Week 10, 41–38 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, Gibbs recorded his first multi-touchdown game as he took 14 carries for 77 yards and two touchdowns, accompanied by three receptions for 35 yards in the air.[27] In Week 15, against the Broncos, he had 11 carries for 100 yards and one rushing touchdown and one receiving touchdown in the win.[28]
He finished his rookie season with 182 carries for 945 rushing yards and ten rushing touchdowns to go with 52 receptions for 316 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in 15 games and three starts.[29] He was selected as a Pro Bowl Alternate for the 2023 Pro Bowl.[30] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[31] He scored a rushing touchdown in all three of the Lions' postseason games.[32][33][34]
In the final game of the regular season against the (14–2) Minnesota Vikings for the NFC North division title and the No. 1 seed, Gibbs scored four touchdowns in the victory, leading the NFL in 2024 with 20 total touchdowns scored.[36] His 20 touchdowns scored also set a Detroit franchise-record for the most in a single-season, passing Jamaal Williams and Barry Sanders.[37][38] On the season, he finished tied with Derrick Henry and James Cook as the NFL rushing touchdowns leader with 16.[39]
