Overview
- Gibbs began mixed‑martial‑arts work with coach Rafael Cordeiro in March 2026 and has logged more than 20 hours of sessions that included competitive sparring.
- Cordeiro praised Gibbs’s fearlessness and vision in training while Gibbs said the work improved his base, faster hands, blocking technique, and overall conditioning.
- Running backs coach Tashard Choice and other Lions staff say MMA drills transfer to the field by improving hand placement, balance, footwork, and pass‑protection skills.
- Head coach Dan Campbell publicly declared Gibbs Detroit’s primary “bell cow” after the team traded David Montgomery, a shift that leaves Gibbs with a likely larger snap and touch share in 2026.
- The combination of heavier usage and elite early‑career production raises practical questions about Gibbs’s durability and growing contract leverage and could influence Detroit’s roster and cap decisions.