Jared Goff will be working with a new offensive coordinator once again in Detroit, as the Lions move forward with Drew Petzing to guide the offense. It marks the fourth different coordinator Goff has had in the past six seasons, but the veteran quarterback sounds energized by the change.
Speaking Monday after being added to the NFC Pro Bowl Games roster as an alternate, Goff expressed strong enthusiasm about Petzing’s approach and football acumen.
“I’ve studied a lot of what he’s done already,” Goff said. “I’ve talked with him, gone through concepts, and he really gets it. He’s sharp, communicates clearly, and understands exactly what I’m trying to say. I’m excited.”
Petzing most recently ran the Arizona Cardinals’ offense for three seasons. His units leaned heavily on the ground game early in his tenure before shifting toward a more pass-focused approach in 2025, largely due to injuries that limited Arizona’s rushing options.
Detroit’s offense endured an uneven 2025 season following Ben Johnson’s departure. John Morton was brought in to replace him, but head coach Dan Campbell ultimately assumed play-calling duties midway through the year. Morton was dismissed after the season concluded.
Goff believes Petzing’s background as a seasoned coordinator and play-caller makes him an ideal candidate to stabilize and elevate the unit.
“He’s been in this role before and has real experience calling games,” Goff said. “I honestly think he was a home-run hire.”
According to Goff, one of Petzing’s strengths is his ability to blend the run and pass games into a cohesive system, using versatility and adaptability to maximize what a roster does best.
“He knows how to connect everything — the run game, the pass game, play-action — all the stuff we’ve had success with,” Goff explained. “That cohesion really stands out.”
While Goff wasn’t directly involved in the formal interview process, he remained in communication with Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes throughout the search. He also reached out to players familiar with Petzing’s work, including Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett, and came away impressed.
“Every quarterback I talked to had nothing but great things to say,” Goff noted. “What excites me most is that he’s flexible. He’s not married to one scheme. We’re going to do what suits us best.”
Goff emphasized that it’s still early, with full installation of the offense set for later in the offseason program. Even so, he believes Petzing has the intelligence and teaching ability to fully unlock the Lions’ offensive potential.
“We’ve got a lot of weapons, and the toughest part is getting everyone involved the right way,” Goff said. “He’s got the mindset and mental agility to manage that. Then you add in his experience with the run game, and it’s really exciting.”
Despite the turbulence in play-calling, Detroit’s offense remained among the league’s most productive in 2025, ranking inside the top five in total yards, scoring, and passing production. However, offensive line issues limited the run game, and the unit experienced offensive droughts that were uncommon in previous seasons.
Looking ahead, Goff believes Petzing can help bring greater balance and reliability in 2026.
“It comes down to efficiency and consistency,” Goff said. “When we were at our best, everything ran smoothly. This year, we had too many stretches where things stalled. Being able to recover quickly and stay on schedule is the next step. We’ve got the personnel — now it’s about raising the standard and executing.”
