Lions RBs “Sonic and Knuckles” are key to Sunday’s showdown against the Vikings

It fits perfectly. Gibbs provides the speed of Sonic the Hedgehog while Montgomery plows through would-be tacklers like Knuckles the Echidna, an enemy-turned-friend (much like Monty, who moves from the Chicago Bears to the Lions).

Let's pause here to take a look at some of the other RB duo nicknames in NFL history (not intended to be an exhaustive list).

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick of the Miami Dolphins
Thunder and lightning: Chuck Muncie and Tony Galbreath of the New Orleans Saints
Bull Elephant backcourt: Dick Hoerner of the Los Angeles Rams, Paul “Tank” Younger and “Deacon” Dan Towler
WD40: Warrick Dunn and Mike Alscott of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Double problem: DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart of the Carolina Panthers
Earth, Wind and Fire: Brandon Jacobs (Earth), Derrick Ward (Wind) and Ahmad Bradshaw (Fire) of the New York Giants
Smash and Dash: Chris Johnson and LenDale White of the Tennessee Titans

For my money, Sonic and Knuckles should be at or near the top of all RB nickname rankings. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is the only creative film that comes close.

As our list shows, it takes strength to get a nickname that sticks.

Gibbs and Montgomery certainly have.

Gibbs (452 ​​scrimmage yards, four TDs) and Montgomery (445 scrimmage yards, six TDs) are the only teammates in 2024 with more than 400 scrimmage yards and more than four touchdowns each.

Knuckles forced 32 missed tackles in 2024, the fourth-most in the NFL according to Next Gen Stats, with 37.6 percent of touches resulting in a missed tackle (highest among 28 players with 70-plus touchdowns in 2024).

In 20 career games played, Sonic had 1,292 rushing yards, 13 rushing TDs, 66 catches, 420 receiving yards and two receiving TDs. He joins Saquon Barkley (2018-19), Alvin Kamara (2017-18) and Maurice Jones as the fourth player since 1970 with more than 13 rushing TDs, more than five yards per carry and more than 50 catches in his first 20 games -Drew (2006-07). Gibbs is one of three players with more than 1,200 rushing yards and more than five yards per carry since 2023 (Lamar Jackson, Christian McCaffrey).