The Detroit Lions made a surprising move in early March by trading running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans. The deal sends Montgomery to Houston in exchange for offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, a 2026 fourth-round draft pick, and a 2027 seventh-round pick.

Montgomery spent three seasons with the Detroit Lions and was an important part of their offense. Known for his tough running style, he scored 33 rushing touchdowns during his time in Detroit and helped form a strong backfield duo with running back Jahmyr Gibbs. However, Gibbs’ emergence as the team’s primary rusher during the 2025 season reduced Montgomery’s role in the offense.

Despite the change, many teammates were sad to see him leave. Lions wide receiver Amon‑Ra St. Brown shared how highly he thinks of Montgomery, saying, “He’s an RB1 on 31 other teams.”(Patra, Mar 2 2026)

This statement shows the respect Montgomery earned in Detroit and why the trade came as a surprise to many fans.

Montgomery also shared an emotional farewell message to the city after the trade was announced. In a statement posted online, he wrote, “Please know this: Everything I do next carries a piece of Detroit with it.”(Patra, Mar 5 2026)

His message reflected the strong connection he built with the team and its supporters during his time there.

For the Texans, the trade provides a physical, experienced running back who could take on a larger role in their offense. Meanwhile, the Lions gain draft capital and offensive line depth while preparing to rely more heavily on Gibbs as their primary running back heading into the 2026 NFL season.