After the Detroit Lions wrapped up a frustrating 2025 campaign that ended without a playoff appearance, the organization wasted little time making changes. One of the earliest and most notable decisions was parting ways with offensive coordinator John Morton, who lasted just one season in the role.
The move didn’t shock many observers. Midway through the year, head coach Dan Campbell had already taken play-calling responsibilities away from Morton, signaling a lack of confidence in the direction of the offense.
To replace him, Detroit turned to former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. While the hire was met with hesitation from some fans unfamiliar with Petzing’s résumé, at least one Lions player has already expressed confidence in the new direction — running back David Montgomery.
Montgomery recently spoke about meeting Petzing for the first time and came away impressed.
“I’ve only had a brief conversation with him,” Montgomery said. “But it’s clear he understands what needs to be done and is ready for the challenge. I’m excited to see how his ideas translate into our offense and help us take a step forward.”
Brad Holmes Addresses Montgomery’s Long-Term Outlook in Detroit
As the offseason began, Lions general manager Brad Holmes didn’t shy away from discussing Montgomery’s situation, particularly after the veteran back saw a noticeable decline in usage last season.
“It was definitely a difficult year for him when you look at the reduced number of touches,” Holmes admitted. “That wasn’t necessarily how we envisioned it going into the season. Those are conversations we need to have — whether it makes sense for him to stay here or explore other possibilities.”
Holmes stopped short of committing to Montgomery’s future with the team, but he emphasized how highly the organization values him.
“If it does go another direction, I can’t say enough about what he’s meant to us,” Holmes said. “But I hope it doesn’t come to that. We truly appreciate David Montgomery and have a ton of respect for him.”
Montgomery appeared in all 17 games for the first time in his NFL career, finishing the year with 716 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Still, his total number of touches dropped significantly — nearly 60 fewer than the previous season.
Could Montgomery Remain a Lion?
Despite the uncertainty, some close observers of the team believe Montgomery’s future in Detroit is far from settled. Lions beat writers Ben Raven and Kory Woods discussed the situation on MLive’s Dungeon of Doom podcast and expressed confidence that keeping Montgomery makes sense.
Raven pointed out that Petzing’s arrival could work in Montgomery’s favor.
“If I’m Drew Petzing, I’m saying there’s no reason to trade David Montgomery,” Raven said. “You’re not going to get equal value in return, and he can still be extremely productive here.”
Raven also noted that Montgomery’s contract extension hasn’t even taken effect yet, giving the Lions full control over his future.
“He’s locked in, and moving him just doesn’t make sense,” Raven added. “From my perspective, the Lions shouldn’t even consider it.”
