The Detroit Lions made some notable moves to their roster this offseason, but the most notable change was to their coaching staff, according to Mike Sando of The Athletic. Detroit moving on from John Morton to hire the duo of Drew Petzing and Mike Kafka is what Sando pegged as the team’s best offseason move.
Things just did not work for the Lions offense last year in the way they have in the past. The Lions ranked ninth in Expected Points Added per play and 12th in success rate in 2025, so it is not like the group was awful. However, they were third in EPA/play and first in success rate the year prior, so the drop was notable.
A lot of this can be challenged by injuries, particularly on the offensive line last year. It can also take an offense a year or two sync. However, the Lions saw too many stark drop-offs from Ben Johnson to Morton and decided it was time to move on after just one year.
Petzing will call the offensive plays as the offensive coordinator, but Sando believes that Kafka could be just as valuable of an addition as the passing game coordinator.
Detroit Lions Praised for Offensive Coaching Staff Hires in 2026 Offseason
GettyLions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
Sando notes that both Petzing and Kafka have been considered for head coaching gigs throughout their rise in the NFL. Both hit snags in the road with Petzing going to Arizona and Kafka being in New York, but both have resumes that go beyond that. What might make this duo so successful is that they come from different systems that have been successful in the NFL and could blend things together this year.
Kafka was with Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs from 2017-21 and was under Andy Reid. From 2022-25, he was with Brian Daboll on the Giants. Meanwhile, Petzing started in 2014 with a staff that included Klint Kubiak and Kevin Stefanski. He followed Stefanski from the Vikings to the Cleveland Browns before branching out and running the show in Arizona.
The Stefanski offense and the Reid offense have had success, but both come from completely different backgrounds and philosophies. The two blending together could lead to immense success.
Lions Revamped Offensive Line Could Help Restore Offense
The other two best moves the team made were signing Cade Mays in free agency to start at center and drafting Blake Miller in round 1 to start at right tackle. The Lions’ offensive line got old a lot quicker than expected, as the group went from talented and experienced in 2024 to injured and unimposing in 2025.
They have two new, younger starters in the mix, and the team is expecting steps forward from guards Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge in their third and second years, respectively. The Lions getting this new resurgence on their offensive line, combined with adding the two new offensive coaches to bring in fresh ideas, could combine for a much-improved offense. It will be interesting to see who gets the most credit if things turn around.
Senior Analyst Praises Lions for Key Offseason Move