When Ben Johnson left the Lions in 2025 to become the Bears’ head coach, the Lions replaced him with John Morton.
By mid-November, head coach Dan Campbell took over the playing duties. Morton was then fired after the season ended.
The club took a different approach to revamping its offense in the 2026 offseason, hiring Drew Petzing as coordinator. While Morton had previously been with the Lions as a senior offensive assistant under Campbell, Petzing — who served as the Cardinals’ OC from 2023-25 — didn’t have those ties to the organization.
On Monday, Campbell said Petzing and quarterback Jared Goff have formed a solid partnership as the season approaches.
“I think just their ability to work with each other and I feel like it brings out the best in each other, if you will,” Campbell said at his press conference when asked what he likes about the relationship between the two men. “I think Drew brings clarity in some areas, which is good and that’s always going to help Goff. But, I think at the same time, Goff has these things that he sees, that he likes, that we’re capable of doing with what we have. And he knows that he can do that, where Drew is open to them and we’ve used some of them.
“I think that’s a good thing, man, because I think that’s how you don’t stay stale, man. You continue to grow and with where our quarterback is at, playing at a high level to be able to continue to test him and push him, but also let him come in and let him do things that even though it might be a little new, a new wrinkle that he feels comfortable trying, and then he’s not going to want something good. He’s willing to go and do it, I think it broadens his horizons, I think it’s a good give and take, and I think those guys have worked really well together.
The Lions will open the season at home against the Saints on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.
