Goff Left Surprised In 2023 After Montgomery Transfer From Bears

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff couldn’t believe the Chicago Bears let running back David Montgomery join the team back in 2023, he recalled earlier this week.

Since signing a three-year, $18 million contract with Detroit in early 2023 as an unrestricted free agent from the Bears, the running back has tallied 2,023 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns across three seasons. Last Sunday, Montgomery ran for 151 yards and scored two touchdowns in the team’s 38-30 road victory against the Baltimore Ravens.

But after signing with the team, Goff was left shocked to see that the Bears had allowed the former Iowa State running back to join a division rival.

“I saw D-Mo from across the field for years in Chicago, and I was shocked when they let him walk,” he said on Wednesday. “When we landed him, I was like, ‘Holy smokes, we just got one of the best backs in the league.”

The Lions added to their depth in the running back position shortly afterwards, after signing Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft. Since then, the 23-year-old has rushed 2,537 yards and scored 29 rushing touchdowns, helping the Lions win back-to-back NFC North division titles and one NFC Championship appearance.

“You draft Gibbs, and it’s like, ‘Wow, we have two of the best backs in the league,'” Goff said. “They feed off each other; they’re both incredibly hard-working and good players. The energy they feed off each other, one of them runs well, and the other one wants to run well too. They’re as good as it gets.”

After a setback in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, the Lions bounced back by putting up 90 points across two wins against the Bears and Ravens. Dan Campbell‘s side looks to make it three straight wins as the Cleveland Browns visit Ford Field on Sunday afternoon.