Lions RB explains why playing for the Bears 'sucked the fun' out of football

When his contract with the Chicago Bears expired after last season, David Montgomery knew he needed a change of scenery.

The 25-year-old running back had spent four years in Chicago but never played for a winning team — a detail that he said influenced his decision to sign a three-year, $18 million contract with the Bears NFC North rival, the Detroit Lions.

"[Losing was] all I was used to," Montgomery said during a recent gaming livestream with teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson. "And it got to a point where it sucked the fun out of the game for me because I'm a competitor. I like to compete. That's what football's about. It's so refreshing to (now) be in a place where that's appreciated."

The Bears had a 25-41 record during Montgomery’s time with the team (2019-22), including 14 losses last season and 11 the year before. They made the playoffs just once, suffering a 21-9 defeat to the New Orleans Saints in 2020.

Now in Detroit, which returns a loaded offense and a revamped defense, Montgomery is playing for what many expect to be a legit playoff contender. The Lions are a sexy pick among media pundits to contend for a division title and possibly make a deep postseason run in 2023.