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Dan Campbell gushed over new Texans running back David Montgomery
After another disappointing playoff run, the Houston Texans have been hard at work this offseason as they look to find a way to get their team over the hump in 2026. One of the team’s more notable moves saw them swing a trade with the Detroit Lions that brought veteran running back David Montgomery to town.
Over the past few years, Montgomery teamed up with Jahmyr Gibbs to form one of the most effective running back tandems in the NFL. Now, though, he will be tasked with leading the Texans’ rushing attack, and if you ask his former head coach, Dan Campbell, it sounds like Houston should expect big things from its new offensive weapon.
Dan Campbell Gushes Over David Montgomery
Montgomery was initially selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he quickly earned a big role in their offense. However, after four seasons, the team allowed him to hit the open market, which is when he ended up landing with Detroit as its new starting running back.
In his first season with the Lions, Montgomery racked up 1,015 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, as he proved to be an effective counter to Gibbs’ lightning-quick style of running. As Gibbs has continued to develop into a star, though, Montgomery’s workload has been lessened to the point where he was vocal about his frustration with his role in the team’s offense as the 2025 campaign went on.
It wasn’t much of a surprise to see the Texans make a move for Montgomery, given how inconsistent their rushing attack was with Joe Mixon missing the entire season. And while the Lions did decide to move on from Montgomery, according to Campbell, it wasn’t because he’s a bad player, as he confidently declared the veteran running back will make his new team better.
“I love David Montgomery. He’s a stud. He’s unbelievable,” Campbell said. “I love David, he’s a freaking pro … He will be missed, but I think the Houston Texans are gonna be very happy with the back they just got. I think he makes them better.”
Texans Have High Hopes for David Montgomery in 2026
GettyDavid Montgomery runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Both Mixon and Nick Chubb are free agents and appear unlikely to return to Houston, meaning Montgomery will be pairing up with Woody Marks to lead the Texans’ running back room in 2026. Marks was thrust into a bigger role than expected as a rookie, and while he flashed his potential at times, it’s clear that he’s not ready just yet to be the team’s de facto lead running back.
With Montgomery and Marks teaming up at the running back position, there’s reason to believe Houston’s ground game will be significantly better than it was last season. The Lions have had nothing but nice things to say about Montgomery, even in the wake of this trade, which should help the Texans feel even better about their decision to pick him up earlier this offseason.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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