The Chicago Bears shocked the world by taking over the NFC North last season. Head coach Ben Johnson has turned this team into a legitimate contender, but they now have to prove that they weren't just a one-year wonder.
The NFC North is the toughest division in football, and as such, getting leverage over the divisional rivals is almost as important as winning actual games. That's why Bears general manager Ryan Poles might be thrilled to know Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery's offseason desires.
According to ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler, the former Bear is through with the Lions. He wants to be traded, and given the reasonable price tag the Lions have put on him (a Day 3 pick), it shouldn't be long before they find some takers.
As much as Chicago fans enjoyed when Montgomery began his NFL career in the Windy City, they won't lose any sleep if he's no longer a divisional problem next season.
Lions-David Montgomery Split Could Be a Mistake the Bears Would Love
The Lions failed to replace Johnson last season. Now, with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing taking the reins from John Morton, he may try to replicate his success on the ground in Detroit. That spells trouble for the rest of the NFC North, given that the Lions ranked in the top 10 in rushing in 2023 and 2024 before last year's debacle.
Needless to say, Montgomery played a huge part in that success. If anything, it's not a coincidence to see this team fall out of the top 10 in rushing right after they moved away from him in favor of Jahmyr Gibbs. He's averaged 4.5 yards per carry in Detroit compared to the 3.9 YPC he averaged in Chicago, making it easy to see why losing him would make Petzing's job much harder.
The Lions don't have much RB depth behind Gibbs, other than Montgomery. Gibbs is a superstar, no doubt, but he's more efficient because Montgomery does all the hard work and wears down the defense, allowing him to do his damage with his speed and change of pace. As things stand now, they only have Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors as backup options.
Last but not least, Montgomery has always taken things personally when going against his former team. He's averaging a whopping 5.3 yards per carry and 68.8 yards per game in five outings vs. the Bears since joining the Lions, so it certainly wouldn't hurt to avoid facing him twice per season.
The Bears are going to play a first-place schedule in 2026 and won't sneak up on anybody anymore. The Lions will be on the other side of the spectrum, making the most of an easier schedule to get back to the top, which is why they could regret parting ways with such a serviceable veteran running back like Montgomery.