David Montgomery Bio
David Montgomery (born June 7, 1997) is an American professional football running back in the National Football League (NFL). Known by the nickname Knuckles, he first rose to prominence as a workhorse running back for the Iowa State Cyclones before being selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. Across his professional career, Montgomery has been recognized for his bruising running style, dependable pass protection, and steady production as both a rusher and receiver.
After spending his first four NFL seasons in Chicago, Montgomery signed with the Detroit Lions in 2023 and became part of one of the league’s most productive running back tandems alongside Jahmyr Gibbs. In March 2026, he was traded to the Houston Texans. Over the course of his career, he has been honored twice as a First-team All-American and twice as the recipient of the Brian Piccolo Award, which recognizes courage, loyalty, dedication, and teamwork.
Early Life and Background
David Montgomery was born on June 7, 1997, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He grew up in the Cincinnati area, raised primarily by his mother, who moved the family numerous times because of economic hardship. Montgomery has spoken publicly about not knowing his father and about the challenges of his childhood, including periods when heat and hot water were unavailable in the family home.
Despite those hardships, Montgomery excelled on the football field. He attended Mount Healthy High School in Mount Healthy, Ohio, where he starred as a dual-threat quarterback. Over four varsity seasons, he rushed for 6,666 yards and 91 touchdowns. In 2015, he was named the Division III Ohio Player of the Year and the Southwest District Offensive Player of the Year. His senior season total of 2,707 rushing yards ranked 21st in Ohio high school history.
During his high school years, Montgomery also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America as a member of Troop 772 in Cincinnati, an accomplishment that reflected the discipline and leadership that would later shape his football career. He has since become an official Scouting America ambassador.
Path to American Football
Although Montgomery put up record-setting numbers in high school, he was lightly recruited at the college level. Major programs did not pursue him aggressively, and his main scholarship offers came from Miami (Ohio), Ball State, Buffalo, and Iowa State. He ultimately committed to Iowa State, where he was given the chance to develop as a feature running back.
As a true freshman in 2016, Montgomery made an immediate impact, leading the Cyclones with 563 rushing yards and earning honorable mention Freshman All-American recognition. His breakout came in 2017, when he led the team in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage and finished second in the Big 12 in rushing yards and touchdowns. He also led the nation in forced missed tackles that season, breaking a record previously held by Dalvin Cook.
In 2018, Montgomery strung together multiple 100-yard performances and finished with 1,216 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. He was twice named a First-team All-American and a First-team All-Big 12 selection, cementing his status as one of the top running backs in college football before declaring early for the 2019 NFL draft.
David Montgomery Career
Early Career (2019-2020)
The Chicago Bears selected David Montgomery in the third round with the 73rd overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. He signed a four-year rookie contract on June 14, 2019, and made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers. He recorded his first career rushing touchdown the following week against the Denver Broncos and finished his rookie season with 889 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
Montgomery took a major step forward in 2020, becoming the first Bears running back since Jordan Howard in 2017 to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in a season. He finished the year with 1,070 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 247 carries, ranking fifth in the NFL in rushing yards. He also contributed 54 receptions for 438 yards and two receiving touchdowns, establishing himself as a complete three-down back.
Chicago Bears Era (2019-2022)
Montgomery served as Chicago’s primary running back throughout his four-year tenure with the team. He battled injuries along the way, including a concussion in 2020 and a knee sprain in 2021 that sent him to injured reserve. When healthy, he provided consistency and toughness, including a career-high 146 rushing yards against the Minnesota Vikings in 2020 and a 122-yard performance against the Packers in 2022.
Over the course of his time in Chicago, Montgomery appeared in 49 games and earned the Brian Piccolo Award twice, in 2019 and 2022. He finished his Bears career with strong dual-threat production, including 201 carries for 801 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns in his final season, along with 34 receptions for 316 receiving yards.
Detroit Lions Era (2023-2025)
On March 16, 2023, Montgomery signed a three-year, $18 million contract with the Detroit Lions. He immediately took over as the lead back and scored 13 rushing touchdowns in 14 games, reaching 1,015 rushing yards. His partnership with rookie Jahmyr Gibbs produced immediate results, as the duo became the first pair in NFL history to each total 1,000 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns in the same season. Montgomery and the Lions reached the NFC Championship that year.
In 2024, Montgomery tied Billy Sims’ franchise record by scoring a rushing touchdown in seven consecutive games. He signed a two-year extension worth $18.25 million in October 2024, keeping him under contract through 2027. He finished 2024 with 775 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 185 carries, plus 36 receptions for 341 receiving yards. In 2025, he recorded 158 carries for 716 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
Driving Style and Strengths
Montgomery is widely regarded as a physical, between-the-tackles runner with excellent contact balance and a low center of gravity. He excels at breaking tackles, picking up blitzes in pass protection, and finishing runs with authority. His receiving skills out of the backfield make him a true three-down option, and he is considered a leader in the locker room for his toughness and consistency.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Montgomery’s signature moments are an 80-yard touchdown run against the Houston Texans in 2020, the fourth-longest rush in Bears history, and his role in helping Detroit reach the NFC Championship Game in 2023. He is also a two-time recipient of the Brian Piccolo Award, a prestigious honor given by the Bears that recognizes courage, loyalty, and teamwork.
David Montgomery Career Wins
David Montgomery has been a steady producer rather than a high-volume winner of weekly or postseason awards, but his consistent production has been reflected in major team success. As a member of the 2023 Detroit Lions, he helped lead the team to the NFC Championship Game. He was twice named a First-team All-American in college and earned the Brian Piccolo Award twice during his NFL career.
NFL Highlights
In the NFL, Montgomery has been recognized as one of the league’s most reliable dual-threat backs. He ranked among the top five rushers in the NFL in 2020 with 1,070 yards and was a key piece of the most productive rushing tandem in Detroit’s history alongside Jahmyr Gibbs. He was ranked 98th on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022 by his peers.
Other Wins and Performances
In college, Montgomery led the nation in forced missed tackles in 2017 and earned two First-team All-American and two First-team All-Big 12 selections. He finished his Iowa State career as one of the most productive running backs in program history and was a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award for his community service work.
David Montgomery Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Montgomery was raised by his mother in Cincinnati, Ohio, after growing up without his father in the home. He has spoken openly about the economic hardship his family faced, including frequent moves and periods without heat or running water. A brother of his was incarcerated for drug trafficking and murder, a family experience that has shaped Montgomery’s perspective and motivated his off-field advocacy work.
Personal Life
Montgomery became a father on January 13, 2023, when he and his girlfriend welcomed their first child, a son. He is also known for his commitment to community service, including a long-running friendship with Hunter Erb, a young boy with congenital heart defects whom he befriended while at Iowa State. After the Lions’ Thanksgiving win in 2024, he drew media attention for following a vegan diet, even eating a carrot while his teammates enjoyed a celebratory turkey.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked David Montgomery’s third year with the Detroit Lions and another productive campaign as part of the team’s two-headed rushing attack. He opened the year strong, highlighted by a 12-carry, 151-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3. He remained a reliable red-zone and short-yardage option throughout the season.
Montgomery finished the 2025 regular season with 158 carries for 716 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, adding 24 receptions for 192 receiving yards. He continued to play a complementary role to Jahmyr Gibbs while maintaining his reputation as one of the NFL’s better pass-protecting running backs. On October 7, 2025, he was honored with the North Star Award, the highest recognition given by Scouting America to a non-member for distinguished service.
Following the 2025 season, Montgomery’s future turned when the Detroit Lions traded him to the Houston Texans on March 11, 2026, in exchange for draft picks and offensive lineman Juice Scruggs. The move opened a new chapter for Montgomery as he joined a Texans team looking to strengthen its backfield with a proven veteran presence.
