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[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions to hire Drew Petzing as new offensive coordinator

According to several reports, the Detroit Lions are finalizing a deal to hire Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator.

For the past three seasons, Petzing has served as the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator. During that time, the Cardinals ranked 24th (2023), 12th (2024), and 23rd (2025) in points scored. But he did manage to build out a very strong run game in his first two years with the Cardinals. In 2023, the Cardinals ranked fourth in rushing yards. The following year, they ranked seventh. Both years, they ranked second in yards per rush—finishing with 5.0 yards per carry in 2023 and 5.3 in 2024. However, the run game fell apart in 2025—both due to injuries and the team heavily relying on the passing game (first in passing attempts, last in rushing attempts). The Cardinals ranked 31st in rushing yards, but 16th in yards per carry.

Prior to his time with the Cardinals, Petzing served as the tight ends coach for two years with the Cleveland Browns before jumping to the quarterbacks coach. And prior to that, he spent six years with the Vikings under Mike Zimmer, serving various roles, including wide receivers coach, assistant quarterbacks coach, and offensive assistant.

While Petzing does not have a direct connection to coach Dan Campbell, he interestingly has ties with former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

Although Drew Petzing and Dan Campbell have not coached together previously, there is a connection of sorts: Petzing is extremely close to Ben Johnson. They coached together at Boston College and Petzing served as one of Johnson's groomsmen. https://t.co/BC81S75A7P

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 19, 2026

In short, the Lions are getting an experienced play-caller with varied success over the past three years with the Cardinals. Prior to that, he’s worked with several different position groups and worked his way up for the past dozen years among the NFL coaching ranks.

This is a developing story, and we’ll have more information as it comes in.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ire-drew-petzing-as-new-offensive-coordinator

 

[Detroit Lions]

Dolphins’ head coaching hire is Packers’ pain, Lions’ gain

According to several sources, the Miami Dolphins are finalizing plans to make Jeff Hafley their next head coach. Hafley earned the gig after just two seasons with the Green Bay Packers as their defensive coordinator. There, he turned around a unit that struggled under Joe Barry and produced a defense that ranked sixth in scoring in 2024 and 11th in 2025.

Obviously, that’s tough news for the Packers, who had made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons with the help of Hafley, although both of those seasons were cut short by losses in the Wild Card. Hafley was well-regarded by both analysts and fans alike.

The Packers’ pain is the Lions’ gain, but this news has an even further benefit to the Detroit Lions organization. Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard also interviewed for this Dolphins head coaching gig earlier on Monday. This means Sheppard is in line to return to Detroit for his second season as the defensive coordinator—although with so many head coaching vacancies still out there, nothing is certain. At the time of this writing, there are no reports that Sheppard has interviewed for any of the remaining head coaching jobs.

While some of the opinion of Sheppard may be different, it’s clear he’s valued within the Lions organization and they’d prefer to have him back for 2026, despite some defensive struggles last season. Toward the end of the season, Lions coach Dan Campbell had this to say about Sheppard’s first season as defensive play-caller.

“I like Shep. Shep has really grown this year,” Campbell said. “I think with any first-time coordinator, first-time coach, you go through a lot. You learn along the way. You make adjustments. You find things that you believe in. You throw other things to the side that don’t fit you. You find ways to adjust, and it’s just part of the process. I think Shep’s done a damn good job. There’s always going to be things that you learn from this job, but I like Shep.”

Catch all of the Lions coaching news and rumors over on our 2026 Lions staff tracker.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...hing-hire-jeff-hafley-packers-pain-lions-gain

 

[Detroit Lions]

Small insight as to why the Detroit Lions didn’t hire Mike McDaniel

With the announcement that the Detroit Lions are reportedly hiring Drew Petzing as their newest offensive coordinator came a bunch of reactions from fans and analysts alike. One of the more popular reactions was frustration that the Lions didn’t land former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, a candidate widely believed to be the best offensive mind available this coaching cycle.

McDaniel was a candidate for the Lions’ job and interviewed for the position last Tuesday. Why didn’t the Lions choose him? We don’t have 100 percent clarity on that yet, but ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington provided some insight into Detroit’s thought process with McDaniel.

“Of coordinator jobs that Mike McDaniel has interviewed for, the Lions gig was the least likely to materialize,” Darlington tweeted on Monday. “Campbell liked McDaniel a lot, but Lions didn’t view it as quite the right fit for them.”

Of coordinator jobs that Mike McDaniel has interviewed for, the Lions gig was the least likely to materialize. Campbell liked McDaniel a lot, but Lions didn’t view it as quite the right fit for them.

As for other OC vacancies? Mike is very much in play. Ball is in his court. https://t.co/urG1cDmg4T

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) January 19, 2026

Now, let’s be clear about this quote, because I’ve already seen some potential misinterpretations of this. That last sentence has some believing that Campbell wanted him, but he was overridden by others within the organization. I can see why that’s a possible read on the situation, but I think Campbell could be included in the “Lions” that didn’t view him as a fit. You can like a candidate while also admitting he’s not exactly what you’re looking for. Jumping to the conclusion that Campbell didn’t get his guy because of Brad Holmes, or Sheila Hamp, or Mike Disner is making a huge leap in logic.

What would be more interesting to find out is why the organization didn’t like McDaniel’s fit. There is certainly a perception that McDaniel’s offense is a little more gadgety and based on speed, where the Lions have shown they like physicality and power. Personally, I think McDaniel has shown some of those gritty football tendencies when the personnel is right.

Maybe the personality fit wasn’t right. Maybe McDaniel doesn’t see play-calling the way Campbell wants him to. Maybe the connection with Jared Goff wasn’t ideal. Maybe there was just going to be too much schematic and verbiage overhaul when the Lions are looking for more of a tweak.

Whatever the reason, one thing appears clear from Darlington’s reporting: the Lions rejected McDaniel rather than the other way around.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ht-why-detroit-lions-didnt-hire-mike-mcdaniel

 

[Detroit Lions]

Breaking down Lions OC Drew Petzing’s 3 seasons as Cardinals OC

With reports that former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing is being hired as the next Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, everyone is scrambling to dig into Petzing’s past to analyze the decision. We’re no different here at Pride of Detroit.

But while Petzing’s coaching career spans well over a decade, in this piece, we’re just going to focus on his last three years with the Cardinals as their play-caller. We’re going to look at what he did well, what he struggled with, any sort of other factors that may have impacted the Cardinals’ offensive output, and then relate it all back to what the Lions like to do on offense.

So let’s dig into the last three years of Petzing’s offenses.

2023​

Overall stats:

• 24th in points per game
• 21st in offensive DVOA
• 22nd in EPA/play
• 25th in success rate

Passing stats:

• 29th in yards per attempt
• 23rd in pass DVOA
• 27th in dropback EPA
• 27th in dropback success rate

Rushing stats:

• 2nd in yards per carry
• 9th in rush DVOA
• 7th in rush EPA
• 12th in rush success rate

Key offensive injuries:

• QB Kyler Murray (9 games missed)
• WR Hollywood Brown (3 games missed)
• WR Michael Wilson (4 games missed)
• RB James Conner (5 games missed)
• TE Zach Ertz (10 games missed)

While the Cardinals didn’t put up a ton of points in Petzing’s first season as offensive coordinator, there were certainly some positive signs. Led by a relatively healthy offensive line, the Cardinals produced a top-10 rushing offense in just about every significant statistical category, and it wasn’t overly reliant on the mobility of quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Joshua Dobbs. Despite missing five games, James Conner had the most efficient season of his career, rushing for 1,040 yards (sixth in the NFL), seven rushing touchdowns (16th), and 5.0 yards per carry (fifth).

The passing game obviously suffered from a ton of injuries. Foremost was Murray missing the first nine games of the season. He struggled upon his return, although it’s worth noting he finished the season strong, throwing for six touchdowns, one interception, and a collective 108.3 passer rating in his final three games under the new offense.

Also worth noting, with Zach Ertz out for most of the season, this was Trey McBride’s breakout season in his second year in the NFL. After posting just 29 catches for 265 yards his rookie season, McBride jumped to 81 catches for 825 yards in Petzing’s first year as offensive coordinator.

2024​

Overall stats:

• 12th in points per game
• 11th in offensive DVOA
• 10th in EPA/play
• 10th in success rate

Passing stats:

• 16th in yards per attempt
• 13th in pass DVOA
• 13th in dropback EPA
• 6th in dropback success rate

Rushing stats:

• 3rd in yards per carry
• 9th in rush DVOA
• 8th in rush EPA
• 10th in rush success rate

Key offensive injuries:

• RT Jonah Williams (11 games missed)
• RG Will Hernandez (12 games missed)

Despite the right side of their offensive line being depleted for most of the season, Petzing produced a borderline top-10 offense in the NFL. It was another dominant season on the ground, with Conner finishing 11th in rushing yards (1,094) and 16th in rushing touchdowns (eighth).

More importantly, the passing offense took a pretty huge jump with Murray playing all 17 games. Sacks were down, efficiency was up, and it’s fair to credit Petzing with a lot of those improvements. His heavy reliance on play-action helped elevate the team’s overall efficiency in a big way. On play-action passes in 2024, Murray ranked:

• Second in attempts (159 — behind only Jared Goff)
• Eighth in EPA (+32.8%)
• 13th in EPA/dropback (+0.18)
• 16th in passer rating (104.0)

First-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. had an up-and-down rookie season, but still finished with a respectable 62 catches for 885 yards and eight touchdowns, while McBride posted another incredible season, totaling 111 catches for 1,146 yards. Petzing also found a way to get Conner involved, posting his best receiving stats since his rookie year: 47 catches for 414 yards—the sixth-best production from any running back that year.

2025​

Overall stats:

• 23rd in points per game
• 24th in offensive DVOA
• 23rd in EPA/play
• 24th in success rate

Passing stats:

• 22nd in yards per attempt
• 24th in pass DVOA
• 20th in dropback EPA
• 19th in dropback success rate

Rushing stats:

• 19th in yards per carry
• 28th in rush DVOA
• 29th in rush EPA
• 28th in rush success rate

2025 Arizona Cardinals key offensive injuries:

• QB Kyler Murray (12 games missed)
• RB James Conner (14 games missed)
• RB Trey Benson (13 games missed)
• RB Zonovan Knight (5 games missed)
• TE Tip Reiman (13 games missed)
• WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (5 games missed)
• WR Greg Dortch (5 games missed)
• WR Zay Jones (9 games missed)
• LT Paris Johnson Jr. (5 games missed)
• LG Evan Brown (6 games missed)
• RG Will Hernandez (10 games missed)
• RT Jonah Williams (8 games missed)

Dear God. Unsurprisingly, after reading that list, the Cardinals were the most-injured team in 2025 per several metrics, and they really felt it on offense. Four of five starters missed at least five games this season, with two missing half the season. The running back room was absolutely devastated. Not a single running back had more than 100 rushing attempts in the season, but five different backs had at least 29 rushes.

The passing game was obviously impacted by Murray’s injury, a thinned receiving corps, and an offensive line decimated by injury.

Naturally, everything fell apart. The team became extremely imbalanced, finishing the season with the most passing attempts in the NFL and the fewest rushing attempts. The offensive line—which finished 26th in PFF ranking after ranking 16th in 2024—allowed the fourth-highest pressure rate and the fourth-worst adjusted line yards in the run game. Backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett stepped in, took 43 sacks, threw eight interceptions, and posted a 1-11 record.

But Petzing shares some blame in the collapse. His play-calling was constantly under criticism, and part of the reason for Arizona’s failure was poor play in critical moments. After Week 2, they went 0-8 in one-score games, and the Cardinals offense converted just 42.9% of their fourth down attempts—the fourth-lowest rate in the league. That was a consistent problem, too, as they ranked 28th in conversion rate in 2024 and 27th in 2023.

Despite all those injuries and struggles, the passing offense stayed out of the bottom third of the league in most statistics. McBride, again, took another big step, leading all NFL tight ends with 1,239 receiving yards and earning himself first-team All-Pro honors. Third-year receiver Michael Wilson also had a good year, posting a 1,000-yard season for the first time in his career.

There was nothing redeeming about the run game, however, and it has led some to believe that there was one other big impact on the offense in 2025: losing offensive line coach Klayton Adams. He left to become the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator (but not play caller) and helped turn Dallas’ rushing attack into a top-10 unit. That has led to a healthy debate in Arizona over who was the true mastermind behind the Cardinals’ rushing success in 2023-24.

Of course, with Petzing reuniting with respected Lions OL coach Hank Fraley (they coached together with the Vikings), perhaps that is less of a concern in Detroit.

Charts​

Overall offensive stats:

Passing offense

Running offense

Conclusion​

After two seasons, it really looked like the Cardinals had made the right hire and the offense was heading in the right direction. Those two years earned him a head coaching interview for the Bears in 2025 and some respect around the league. This past season was a disaster, but there was obviously some important injury context to the team’s failures. Still, with only a small sample size to deal with, and just how bad everything fell apart last year, some skepticism is certainly warranted—particularly as a play-caller in big moments.

Schematically, this selection really seems to make a lot of sense for the Lions. Petzing wants to use heavy personnel, run the ball a ton, and utilize a bunch of play-action—all hallmarks of Detroit’s offensive success over the past four years.

Arizona Cardinals Under-Center Play-Action Passing Offense (2023–25, under Drew Petzing):
• 255 dropbacks (7th)
• 66.3% completion rate (12th)
• 51.1% success rate (9th)
• 0.04 EPA per dropback (t-17th)
• 18.0% explosive pass rate (20th)
• 7.46 YAC per completion (5th)
•…

— Al Karsten (@FootballGuy_Al) January 20, 2026

Arizona Cardinals 13-Personnel Offense (2023–25, under Drew Petzing):

• 487 plays (1st)
• 5.6 yards per play (t-4th)
• 46.6% success rate (8th)
• +0.03 EPA per play (9th)
• 11.5% explosive play rate (6th)
• 23.0% of plays resulted in a first down (2nd)
• 53.6% red-zone… https://t.co/YYB45p1iQS

— Al Karsten (@FootballGuy_Al) January 20, 2026

In a lot of ways, this hiring checks the boxes of what a lot of Lions fans were looking for. He’s got plenty of play-calling experience, he’s an external hire, and his specialty is where the Lions offense struggled the most in 2025: running the football. It’s fair to think he may bring some fresh ideas to a running game that needs to be way more efficient in 2025.

But with only one truly good offensive coordinator season to his name and some questions about his situational play-calling, some caution is reasonable. You won’t find a lot of candidates out there with flawless resumes, but there were certainly options out there with more success stories under their belt.

Detroit seems to believe that when taking into account schematic/philosophical fit, age, and some production with lesser talent, Petzing could surprise a lot of people in 2026.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ns-oc-drew-petzings-3-seasons-as-cardinals-oc

 

[Detroit Lions]

Amon-Ra St. Brown talks new Lions OC Drew Petzing, calls out haters

While the Detroit Lions have yet to make the hiring of offensive coordinator Drew Petzing official, one player has already offered his first thoughts on the hire.

During his weekly podcast with his brother, Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown provided a little insight into the Petzing hire, what he heard from quarterback Jared Goff, and a brief conversation he’s already had with the Lions new offensive coordinator.

This weekend, St. Brown said he was getting antsy waiting to hear who his next offensive coordinator will be, so he hit up someone he’d knew would have an inside look into the process: the quarterback. While nothing was official yet, Goff did bring up Petzing’s name and provided some insight to St. Brown.

“He said he was good. He’s smart,” St. Brown said. “Although they didn’t have the best offense, he does a lot of good stuff.”

St. Brown then went into doing his own research, and was fascinated to see that Petzing has a shared history with former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.

“Come to find out he was actually at Boston College with Ben Johnson, which is crazy,” St. Brown said. “And he was a groomsman at Ben Johnson’s wedding. So, that’s actually really ironic.”

Then, he got the text from coach Dan Campbell confirming the hiring was happening.

“I just want to let you know we’re hiring Drew Petzing as our OC. He’s going to be great for us,” St. Brown said, recalling the text.

Earlier this week, St. Brown got a call from Petzing himself, and they had a little conversation, both personal and football-related. Here’s what St. Brown had to say about his first impression of the new Lions offensive coordinator.

“Basically, he just wanted to say what’s up to me. He told me he was excited, I told him, ‘I’m excited, too. Let’s get to work.’ It was just catch(ing) up, small talk,” St. Brown. “That was it. He just wanted to check and introduce himself. So, I appreciate him for that, and, honestly, I’m excited. I think it’s going to be great for us. I trust Dan. I trust all of the decision-makers for the Lions. I think they do a great job, so I’m excited for him.”

In between hearing the news and talking to Petzing himself, St. Brown also saw a wave a negative reactions from the fans. And the Lions All-Pro receiver had a pretty strong message to those who were being overly critical of the hire.

“I see crazy Lions fans talking crazy like, ‘Oh why would we do this?’ Bro, do you guy have no trust in Dan and the Lions? Do you think they would just hire a random dude? Be for real,” St. Brown said. “You think they don’t know what they’re doing? They don’t do the research? They don’t interviews?

“Most of you guys don’t know know really much about anything about any ball,” St. Brown continued. “And you’re tweeting about a coach that was hired that you guys don’t like because of—X,Y,Z. It’s just funny for me to see. Don’t get me wrong, I love all Lions fans, but they are so quick to make judgments about who we hire, we did this. Bro, just relax, calm down, let the whole thing play out. Just let it play out, relax.”

You can watch the entire podcast below. The conversation about Petzing starts around the 27:15 mark.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ks-new-lions-oc-drew-petzing-calls-out-haters

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions News: 3 Detroit Lions given PFWA All-Team honors

Three Detroit Lions have been named to Pro Football Writers Association teams for their outstanding performances in 2025.

Celebrating its 62nd season, the PFWA is made up of accredited writers who cover the NFL and the 32 clubs daily, and aims to fight for access to NFL personnel to best serve the public.

Jack Campbell and Penei Sewell have been named to the Pro Football Writers Association ALL-NFL team.

Offense

• QB – Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
• RB – James Cook, Buffalo Bills; Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
• WR – Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
• TE – Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
• C – Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs
• G – Quinn Meinerz, Denver Broncos; Joe Thuney, Chicago Bears
• T – Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos; Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions

Defense

• DE – Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans; Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
• DT – Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans; Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks
• OLB – Nik Bonitto, Denver Broncos; Brian Burns, New York Giants
• MLB – Jack Campbell, Detroit Lions
• CB – Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles; Derek Stingley Jr., Houston Texans
• S – Kevin Byard III, Chicago Bears; Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens

Special Teams

• PK – Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys
• P – Jordan Stout, Baltimore Ravens
• KR – Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills
• PR – Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans
• ST – Devon Key, Denver Broncos

Sewell made this team in both 2024 and 2023. Last year, safety Brian Branch and punter Jack Fox were on the squad too.

Campbell and Sewell were also named to the PFWA’s all-NFC squad, along with edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson.

Only 16 clubs are represented among the 27 players named on these PFWA teams.

And onto the rest of your notes.

• Jeremy Otto of WWJ/97.1 The Ticket spoke with Cardinals beat writer Darren Urban on how new OC Drew Petzing could fit in here in Detroit:

Cardinals beat writer Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) thinks new Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing will fit Detroit well. Hear my full interview with Darren here: https://t.co/zUEEhLB6dg pic.twitter.com/lqRe4uq6d5

— Jeremy Otto (@JeremyOttoPxP) January 19, 2026

• In more general NFL-related news, Kurt Warner offers a take on former NFL players as broadcasters:

A BIG pet-peeve of mine with X-NFL players doing analysis is how they watch tape & project something on a player that is easy to see on tape, but realistically is a lot more difficult or by no means a gimme in real life, yet they make it sound like A GOOD PLAYER has to do this!…

— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) January 21, 2026

• Speaking of which, though he better not be done on the field:

Thinking about doing some linebacker breakdowns across the league to point out some plays that go unnoticed or may not be seen from fan/media perspective.. thoughts??

— Alex Anzalone (@AlexAnzalone34) January 20, 2026

• A to Z Sports’ Mike Payton lays out what he thinks may happen throughout this entire Lions offseason.

I put together an entire mock offseason for the Lions

Restructured contracts
Brought back free agents
Traded a player
Signed 5 new free agents
Signed 2 players to extensions
7-round mock draft

https://t.co/99dfk2EptK

— Mike Payton (@AtoZ_Payton) January 21, 2026

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ws-3-detroit-lions-given-pfwa-all-team-honors

 

[Detroit Lions]

Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper announces retirement, interest in coaching

Detroit Lions offensive tackle Dan Skipper announced on Thursday his retirement from the NFL. In a post on Instagram, Skipper called it a career after playing the game he’s loved for two dozen years. Here’s his message:

24 years of putting on pads and a helmet every fall. This year I’ll trade that out to pursue a career on the other side in coaching.

The memories and experiences that the NFL has brought me and my family are hard to put into words. Thankful for every person that has been apart of my journey.

It’s time for me to “report” as retired. (Sorry I had to do it one last time!)

Skipper has become a bit of a cult-favorite among Lions fans. He’s been on and off the Lions’ roster since entering the league in 2017. And while he’s never been a full-time starter for the team, he’s often been the first offensive tackle off the bench, and in recent years, he’s found a role as a jumbo-package tight end. He started 16 games across 69 total game appearances.

Of course, he’ll forever be most known for the controversial ending to the Lions vs. Cowboys game in 2023. The Lions ran a trick play on a potential game-winning two-point conversion—a pass to left tackle Taylor Decker. However, officials negated the successful play, thinking that Dan Skipper had reported as eligible on the play, when it was clear it was actually Decker. Detroit was penalized and ultimately lost the game.

After the end of the 2025 season, Skipper noted that he was considering retirement due to a lingering back injury.

“This might be the last one.”
An emotional Dan Skipper postgame. Said he’ll have imaging results coming back Tuesday on a lower back injury that almost shut him down earlier in the szn.
Hell of a career for a UDFA that bounced around before finding a home in DET. pic.twitter.com/i9oRXdCgk6

— Kalyn Kahler (@kalynkahler) January 5, 2026

But maybe this isn’t the end for Dan Skipper and the Lions. As he said at the top of his retirement statement, it appears he’ll pursue a football career in coaching. At this point, it isn’t clear what rank of football he’s considering, but it certainly wouldn’t be surprising if he wanted to stay in Detroit.

It appears Skipper already has his first assignment in coaching:

As he suspected with some emotional postgame comments following the season finale, Dan Skipper's injuries are pushing him into retirement. He's planning to quickly transition into coaching and will work with the OL and TEs at the upcoming East/West Shrine game.

— Justin Rogers | Detroit Football Network (@Justin_Rogers) January 22, 2026

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...per-announces-retirement-interest-in-coaching

 

[Detroit Lions]

Aidan Hutchinson a finalist for 2 NFL Honors awards

On Thursday, the NFL announced the finalists for their 2025 NFL Honors, and Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson is in the running for two end-of-season awards: Defensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year.

The four finalists for Defensive Player of the Year, joining Hutchinson, are Will Anderson Jr. (Texans), Nik Bonitto (Broncos), Myles Garrett (Browns), and Micah Parsons (Packers). From a statistical perspective, these five players represent four of the top six pressure creators in the NFL in 2025, with Hutchinson leading the way with 89 pressures.

However, this category tends to heavily lean toward sack producers, and this could be where Garrett overtakes Hutchinson for the award. While Hutchinson registered a career-high 14.5 sacks that landed him fourth in the NFL and second amongst the finalists, Garrett set an NFL record with 23, a number that will be hard for voters to overlook.

The four finalists joining Hutchinson for the Comeback Player of the Year award include wide receiver Stefon Diggs (Patriots), quarterback Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars), running back Christian McCaffrey (49ers), and Dak Prescott (Cowboys).

Hutchinson is up for the award, as he was coming off a broken leg in 2024, and not only did he put up tremendous defensive stats in 2025, but he also registered 100+ defensive snaps (950) more than any other defensive lineman in the NFL this past season (save Max Crosby, who had 886). An impressive showing of stability after a gruesome end to his 2024 season.

As for the other finalists, it’ll be interesting to see who can challenge Hutchinson. Diggs was coming off an ACL and registered 85 receptions (12th most in the NFL) for 1013 receiving yards (16th). Lawrence’s 2024 season ended due to multiple concussions, and he rebounded in 2025 by throwing over 4000 yards (6th) and 29 touchdowns (5th). McCaffrey dealt with multiple injuries in 2024 (only played in four games), but in 2025, he ran for 1202 yards (8th), scored 10 rushing touchdowns (9th), and led all running backs with 102 receptions for 924 receiving yards. Prescott saw a hamstring end his 2024 season prematurely, and he finished 2025 with 4552 passing yards (3rd), 30 touchdowns (4th), and led the NFL with 404 completions.

The 2025 NFL awards show will air on NFL Network on February 5, 2026.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...hutchinson-a-finalist-for-2-nfl-honors-awards

 

[Detroit Lions]

Jack Campbell wins award for top NFL linebacker

Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell has been named the recipient of the 2025 Pro Butkus Award. The award, which is more known for the identical college honors, goes to the top linebacker in the NFL, as voted on by Butkus Award Selection Committee—a selection of 51 voters from all ranks of football, including NFL front office members, scouts, and coaches.

“Jack Campbell embodies everything the Butkus Award represents,” the committee said in a statement (via Hawkeyesports.com). “His size, instincts and disciplined approach to the position allow him to control the middle of the field. He plays with authority, communicates at a high level, and consistently puts himself in position to make impactful plays. His rise this season reflects not just talent, but leadership and football character.”

Campbell’s 2025 season was a breakout for the third-year linebacker. He was named First-Team All Pro after tallying 176 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

“He’s extremely valuable,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said in December. “Right now, first of all he leads the team in amount of reps that he’s played for a season. He’s taken more reps than anybody on this team. He plays on kickoff for us and he’s an asset on kickoff and then everything you see on defense. He doesn’t come off the field, he’s our bell cow, green dot. And he does—and the guy is smart and he’s instinctive and he is snap-to-whistle all-out, all the time, in practice too. And he doesn’t take plays off, he doesn’t take days off, he goes after the football, he’s a ball guy. So, he’s invaluable.”

Interestingly, this is the second time Campbell has won the award. Back in 2022, he won the college version of the award after a standout year with the Iowa Hawkeyes. That season, Campbell posted 128 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Campbell is heading into the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, although the Lions have an opportunity to exercise a fifth-year option worth a projected $16.4 million. The deadline to exercise that option is May 1. But the Lions may very well sign Campbell to a contract extension before then.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr.../jack-campbell-wins-award-nfl-best-linebacker

 

[Detroit Lions]

2026 Lions Mock Draft Roundup 3.0: A shift in OL projections

Watching NFL Draft projections in January can trigger your vertigo, as analysts scramble to adjust their projections from pre-season expectations to end-of-season results.

In the first two installments of this year’s Mock Draft Roundup series, we saw the majority of NFL Draft analysts projecting the Lions to land Miami right tackle Francis Mauigoa. However, with Mauigoa getting a lot more attention during the College Football Playoffs—including playing in the National Championship last Monday—and NFL Draft expert Dane Brugler of The Athletic suggesting Mauigoa could be drafted among the top six picks in this year’s NFL Draft, we’ve seen a dramatic shift in how other analysts are adjusting their expectations.

As a result, Mauigoa was only connected to the Lions once this week—as was Utah’s Spencer Fano, who Brugler also noted as a potential top-six pick—and instead, we’ve seen a heavy shift in projections (nine of the 24 we examined this week) for the Lions to snag the player many consider the third-best offensive tackle in this class: Alabama’s Kayden Proctor.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at which NFL Draft prospects are being mocked to the Lions (who hold the No. 17 overall pick) this week.

Offensive linemen​

Francis Mauigoa, RT, Miami (6-foot-6, 325)
Source: Curt Popejoy (Draft Wire)

Spencer Fano, RT, Utah (6-foot-5, 300)
Source: Matthew Freedman (Fantasy Life)

Kadyn Proctor, LT, Alabama (6-foot-7, 360)
Source: Mark Schofield and James Dator (SB Nation), Gordon McGuinness (PFF), Reese Decker (Pro Football Network), Cody Williams (FanSided), Lou Scataliga (NFL Mocks), Nicholas Rome (Saturday Blitz), Tim Bielk (Cleveland.com), Richie Bradshaw (Cardinals SI), Tankathon (Staff)

“Although Penei Sewell is a proven star, Taylor Decker is in his 30s and coming off his lowest-graded season since 2017. It’s time for the Lions to think about a long-term replacement at left tackle.

“The best options on the left side are Proctor and Utah’s Caleb Lomu. While both are strong prospects, Detroit opts for the 20-year-old Proctor here. He earned 80.0-plus PFF grades as a run blocker and in pass protection in 2025.“ — McGuinness

Ioane Vega, LG, Penn State (6-foot-4, 335)
Source: Mel Kiper (ESPN), Charles McDonald (Yahoo.com), Jacob Infante (Pro Football Network), Sayre Bedinger (NFL Spin Zone)

“The Lions aren’t far from getting back to being NFC contenders, but they’ll need to get a bit more talented on their offensive line to have a more consistent offense to close out seasons and games. Ioane has the size and athleticism that head coach Dan Campbell has grown to covet in his offensive linemen and fits Detroit’s bruising style of play.” — McDonald

Caleb Lomu, LT, Utah (6-foot-6, 305)
Source: Jamie Eisner (Draft Network), Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz (USA Today), C.J. Doon (Sun Sentinel), Brian Bosarge (Draft Countdown)

“The Detroit Lions could have a ton of shake-up on their offensive line this season. Taylor Decker and/or Graham Glasgow could retire this offseason, opening a clear hole that needs an immediate fix. If Decker doesn’t return in 2026, Caleb Lomu can immediately fill the void. He’s a young, high-ceiling prospect who dramatically improved his game this season, both in protecting the passer and opening holes in the run game. He’d be a great fit.” — Eisner

Erik’s Thoughts:

It was always strange to me that Mauigoa and Fano were being projected to be selected in the teens because they’re plug-and-play starters in my mind, but I think the blame for this could land in several of the 2026 Mock Draft Simulators ranking the tackles in this range. These simulators can be incredibly fun and certainly helpful for those creating mock drafts, but sometimes they can distort expectations.

As for this week’s projections, Proctor, Vega, and Lomu all represent a different way of the Lions approaching the draft. If left tackle Taylor Decker returns to the Lions in 2026, Vega could be the smart answer, as he has minimal flaws and is an instant upgrade, while both tackles have areas to improve. Regardless of Decker’s status, Proctor could be the best option, as he is a rare athlete with a tremendous ceiling/positional range, but he’s also the greenest of the three options here. If Decker retires, the Lions may prefer Lomu because he is a clean pass protector who mainly only needs to add some functional strength.

All three would be upgrades for the Lions’ offensive line, but which one they prefer could hinge on other factors.

Defensive tackle​

Peter Woods, DT, Clemson (6-foot-3, 315)
Source: Kristopher Knox (Bleacher Report)

Kayden McDonald, NT, Ohio State (6-foot-2, 326)
Source: Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News)

“The Lions need more punch on their defensive line to support Aidan Hutchinson. McDonald can be a powerful asset vs. the run and also provide some extra inside pass-rush juice.” — Iyer

Erik’s Thoughts:

While I don’t believe drafting an interior defensive lineman is the best use of the Lions’ current resources, I also believe Woods could end up being one of the best 10 players in this draft class, and in a “we draft the best player available” scenario, he would represent great value at pick No. 17.

McDonald is a perfect fit for the Lions’ scheme, but selecting him would suggest the Lions believe they either missed on last year’s selection of Tyleik Williams or Alim McNeill’s extension—and I don’t believe Detroit thinks either of those things to be true.

Edge rusher​

David Bailey, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-foot-3, 250)
Source: Josh Edwards (CBS)

“To Detroit’s credit, it has utilized essentially every means of talent acquisition to address the spot opposite Aidan Hutchinson. None of those solutions have panned out long term. The Lions take another swing by drafting one of college football’s most productive pass rushers in 2025. David Bailey had 14.5 sacks and three forced fumbles last season for the Red Raiders.” — Edwards

Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn (6-foot-6, 275)
Source: Richard Janvrin (Fantasy Pros), Tim Crean (Clutch Points)

“The Lions need a Robin to go with their Batman in Aidan Hutchinson. Keldrick Faulk can play in various spots along the defensive line. For a Lions team that needs more pass-rushing help, Faulk feels safe”. — Janvrin

T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson (6-foot-3, 265)
Source: Steve Bradshaw (TWSN)

Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-foot-2, 249)
Source: Tarringo Basile-Vaughn (NFL Mocks)

Erik’s Thoughts:

I’d be shocked if Bailey was available at No. 17, as I see him as a top-10 player, but I’d welcome the selection. Faulk looks closer to being available in the Lions range, and stylistically would be a really good fit for what they do on the defensive line. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him projected to the Lions more and more as the offseason progresses.

Parker is coming off a down season, so I need to see more of his tape before properly evaluating him. While Howell is certainly talented, I question the schematic fit, as he’s mainly a burner off the edge with limited run-stuffing experience. That role is certainly something the Lions could use, but I’m not sure the Lions would consider an EDGE at No. 17 who can’t stop the run consistently.

Defensive backs​

Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee (6-foot-0, 195)
Source: John Blair (NFL Mocks), Cayden Steele (NJ.com)

Avieon Terrell, CB Clemson (5-foot-11, 180)
Source: Fox Sports (Research Team)

“The brother of All-Pro corner A.J. Terrell, Avieon has had a ton of production in three seasons at Clemson, recording 25 passes defended, 125 total tackles, eight forced fumbles, four sacks, and three interceptions in 1,860 defensive snaps played in that span.

“Avieon will be a great compliment to a secondary already featuring Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch and Terrion Arnold.”

Erik’s Thoughts:

While the Lions could certainly benefit from adding more starter-level talent in their secondary, I’m not sold that the Lions would select an outside corner in the first round, with Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed projected to be in starting roles. Like with defensive tackle, drafting a player from this group would suggest the Lions were dissatisfied with Arnold and/or Reed, and I’m not sure I believe that just yet.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...k-draft-roundup-3-0-a-shift-in-ol-projections

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions News: Dan Skipper, coaching at Shrine Bowl, explains retirement decision

A day after announcing he’s hanging up the pads, now former Detroit Lions offensive lineman Dan Skipper got to work starting a new career in coaching.

In a social media post on Thursday, Skipper announced his retirement from the NFL and his plans to switch to coaching. A day later, he was already helping coach at the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl in Texas.

Newly retired #Lions OL Dan Skipper is already helping coach at the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl. pic.twitter.com/RtraXxwIK9

— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) January 23, 2026

Fanatics View spoke to him down in Texas about what all went into his retirement decision.

“This year, had some health things that were really taking a toll,” he said. “I wasn’t able to move like I have been. It was time. Family’s been supportive with everything but when you can’t even sit down on the couch, you’re just laying on the floor for three months every night, it takes it out of you.”

Skipper said now it’s about figuring out what to do next so he’s healthy enough to spend quality time with his family.

“Trying to make sure we’re doing the right things so that I can play ball with my kids when they’re older. I can do things to be a great dad, too — not just keep going until like some of these guys walking around that can’t move at all,” he said.

And onto the rest of your notes.

• “While hosts Kory Woods and Ben Raven aren’t calling it a home-run hire or one guaranteed to work, they have warmed to the pick with the extra time, landing in the B- range for those who need a grade.” The pair of MLive.com writers offer their thoughts on Drew Petzing becoming the Lions offensive coordinator on the latest episode of their Dungeon of Doom podcast.

• More input on the hire over on the Green Light with Chris Long Podcast:

Lions new OC Drew Petzing might be a home run hire, here’s why: pic.twitter.com/85badmBsOR

— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) January 23, 2026

• “That’s where you go wrong, when you try to insult the fans’ intelligence, that’s just a lose-lose.” We told you earlier this week how Amon-Ra St. Brown sounded off on fans’ (mostly poor) reaction to the OC hire. Now former Lions OL turned broadcaster T.J. Lang is sounding off on St. Brown’s response.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...g-at-shrine-bowl-explains-retirement-decision

 

[Detroit Lions]

Discussion: Does Mike McDaniel taking a HC interview change your opinion of him?

It’s no secret that the most popular offensive coordinator candidate for the Detroit Lions job was former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. It’s easy to understand, too. For a couple of years, he had one of the most innovative offenses in football, and given his history making speedsters All-Pro players, you could only imagine what he could do with weapons like Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams.

But the Lions chose Drew Petzing, and the McDaniel chose to be the next Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator.

… or did he?

On Friday, it was revealed that McDaniel will still interview for the Buffalo Bills’ head coaching job.

The Bills are interviewing new Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel for their head coaching job today, per source. McDaniel, of course, spent the last four years in the AFC East as Dolphins head coach.

McDaniel will be Jim Harbaugh’s OC if he doesn’t land an HC job.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 23, 2026

It’s unclear how serious of a candidate McDaniel is for the Bills job, but if he takes it, it would obviously be a pretty tough setback for a Chargers team that thought they had their guy.

UPDATE: Just as this was published, news broke that McDaniel did not end up interviewing with the Bills, but he is still a candidate for the Raiders vacancy:

Update: Mike McDaniel pulled out of his scheduled meeting down in Florida with the Bills yesterday, I’m told, and the two sides never met.

McDaniel remains in contention for the Raiders’ head coaching job, but if he takes an OC position, it’s still expected to be with the… pic.twitter.com/9vH6eellLa

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 24, 2026

For some, this move will rub them the wrong way. Why agree to take a job if you’re still considering other jobs? You put the team in a tough spot, and it doesn’t look great for you. On the other hand, no paper has been signed yet, and it’s reasonable to explore bigger opportunities that arise.

So today’s Question of the Day is:

Does McDaniel still taking a head coach interview change your mind about him as Lions OC?​

My answer: I wasn’t as in on McDaniel as a lot of people. I know his first two years were great, but it’s hard to completely ignore the last two seasons—much like it’s hard to ignore Petzing’s 2025 season despite a really strong 2024.

But McDaniel still seeking a head coaching job is a strong reminder that if the Lions had hired McDaniel, they probably wouldn’t have had him for long. Any sort of success with Detroit likely would have led to more head coaching opportunities next year, and likely another offensive coordinator search for the Lions. Would that be worth it for a year of McDaniel? Hard to say. On one hand, if he is truly the best candidate to give the Lions a shot at a Super Bowl, no one would complain about him leaving if he left with a ring. That said, if he brings a new system, requires a few months to figure it out, only for him to leave a few months later, that seems like it could be a big setback.

Ultimately, McDaniel’s decision to consider more jobs after agreeing to be an offensive coordinator doesn’t change my opinion of him much, but I wasn’t among the bigger McDaniel fans anyways.

How do you feel about McDaniel in retrospect now? Scroll down to the comment section and let us know!

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...ing-a-hc-interview-change-your-opinion-of-him

 

[Detroit Lions]

NFL Conference Championship live discussion: Patriots vs. Broncos; Rams vs. Seahawks

It’s time to determine the two teams in Super Bowl LX.

The 2025-26 NFL playoffs continue on Sunday with the NFC and AFC Championship games.

To kick things off, the Denver Broncos will host the New England Patriots in a battle of the AFC’s No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. The headline of the matchup is Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who will start the game after Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle late in the Divisional Round. It’s a fascinating position for Stidham, who has only started four games in seven years, but it’s not just about him. These are two well-built teams that are more than their quarterbacks, and Denver will certainly be hoping their dynamic defense can help Stidham along.

The nightcap—beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET—is between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. The NFC West duo clash for a spot in the Super Bowl. The two teams split the season series in the regular season, and many viewed these as the best two teams in football right now.

This post will be a place where you can chat during both games, providing your own commentary and thoughts on the action. To join, just follow these instructions below:

Join the conversation!​

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Here’s all the viewing information you need to enjoy the game:

AFC Championship Game: Patriots at Broncos​

Kickoff time: 3 p.m. ET
TV channel: CBS
Online streaming: Paramount+, NFL +
Announcers: Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson, Evan Washburn
Vegas line: Patriots by 3.5, per FanDuel Sportsbook

NFC Championship Game: Rams at Seahawks​

Kickoff time: 6:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: FOX
Online streaming: NFL +
Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi
Vegas line: Sehawks by 2.5, per FanDuel Sportsbook

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...scussion-patriots-vs-broncos-rams-vs-seahawks

 

[Detroit Lions]

NFL playoff predictions: Who will play in 2026 Super Bowl?

The NFL playoff field is down to four teams, and by the end of the day, we’ll be down to the final two.

NFL Conference Championship Weekend kicks off Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET with the Denver Broncos hosting the New England Patriots. Both franchises have seemingly revived themselves after their long span of success was interrupted by some recent missteps. Mike Vrabel has the Patriots competitive again in just one season at the helm, while it’s been a three-year project for Sean Payton and the Broncos—taking a 5-12 team in 2022 to 14-3 and the AFC’s top seed this season.

Then, at 6:30 p.m. ET, the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams take the stage to determine the NFC’s representative in Super Bowl 60. The Seahawks captured the conference’s No. 1 seed despite being in the tightest and most talented division in football. Led by a strong defense and a splashy offense, they may be the most well-rounded team in the NFL. But the Rams have just as much talent, and LA has the only remaining quarterback with deep playoff success—or experience—which can be the difference-maker this time of year.

So today’s Question of the Day is:

Which two teams will play in Super Bowl LX?​

My answer: I’m going with the Seahawks and Patriots.

Let’s start with the NFC, because I’m considerably more familiar with both the Rams and Seahawks.

The Rams were my pick at the start of the playoffs, and they looked like the best team in football about two months ago. But they don’t seem like they’re trending in the right direction right now. They finished the regular season with a 3-3 record, and both of their playoff wins were uninspiring performances against teams they are way better than on paper. The Seahawks, on the other hand, wiped the floor with the 49ers in all three phases of the game. Seattle can just beat you in so many ways that, despite the doubts about Sam Darnold at quarterback, I believe the Seahawks will be able to find a way to come out victorious.

Admittedly, I’m not all that familiar with the Broncos and Patriots. I haven’t watched either team play much, other than during this playoff run. I do believe the Broncos have a better chance than most are giving them after the brutal injury to Bo Nix. However, I really respect what the Patriots are doing right now and the job Vrabel has pulled off. It will be a tremendous test for Drake Maye against Denver’s ridiculously good defense, but don’t sleep on New England’s defense, which has allowed just 19 points in two playoff games. I expect this to be a low-scoring affair, so one mistake may shift the game entirely. And I believe Jarrett Stidham is the most likely person to make that error.

Which teams do you think will win on Sunday and advance to the Super Bowl? Share your predictions and explain why in the comment section below.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...-predictions-who-will-play-in-2026-super-bowl

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions to hire Mike Kafka in ‘high-ranking offensive staff role’

The Detroit Lions are making a splash hiring, bringing in former New York Giants offensive coordinator and interim head coach Mike Kafka in a “high-ranking offensive staff role,” as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and confirmed by other league sources.

Kafka was a sought-after coaching candidate this offseason. Not only did he interview with the Lions for their offensive coordinator position before they eventually hired Drew Petzing, but he also interviewed for the Giants head coaching position and the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator position.

Kafka was on a short list of candidates that we profiled for the position, and here’s what we wrote in our candidates for offensive coordinator article earlier this offseason:

Kafka, a former quarterback, spent five seasons in the NFL before shifting to the coaching ranks. After playing under Andy Reid as a player in Philadelphia, Kafka joined Reid’s coaching staff in Kansas City in 2017. After five seasons with the Chiefs, Brian Daboll hired him to be his OC in New York, and halfway through the 2025 season, Kafka took over interim head coaching duties following Daboll’s firing.

After taking over as the Giants’ interim coach, Kafka dialed up the aggression on offense, reemphasized a focus on the run game, and the team played inspired ball the remainder of the season. Based on how he coached the Giants in the back half of the season, it appears several of his coaching values align with Campbell’s principles: run-heavy, aggressive concepts with aggression in key moments that create opportunities to win the game.

I broke down the Giants’ scheme after the promotion of Kafka, ahead of their matchup with the Lions, which highlights some traits that would make Kafka appealing to Detroit.

While it’s unclear what Kafka’s exact role will be at this time, this is a massive acquisition for the Lions. His offensive mind should mesh very well with coach Dan Campbell and Petzing, and for all intents and purposes, should give a significant boost to an already potent offense.

For all the Lions coaching moves and rumors, make sure to check out our 2026 Detroit Lions coaches tracker for all the latest news and rumors on the team’s coaching staff.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...-kafka-in-a-high-ranking-offensive-staff-role

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions retain important defensive coach with new contract

The Detroit Lions have successfully reached a new contractual agreement with safeties coach Jim O’Neil, securing his return to Allen Park for another season.

O’Neil had previously interviewed for the New York Jets’ defensive coordinator position, as Jets head coach Aaron Glenn was exploring candidates for the vacancy after parting ways with Steve Wilks earlier in the offseason. Glenn was, of course, the Lions’ defensive coordinator from 2021-24, and O’Neil worked directly under Glenn during the 2024 season. Additionally, O’Neill got his start in the NFL with the Jets organization, acting as their defensive quality control coach in 2009 and assistant defensive backs coach from 2010-12.

Retaining O’Neil is a big win for the Lions. Not only does he have NFL experience as a defensive coordinator (Browns 2014-15 and 49ers 2016), but he has done tremendous work with the Lions’ secondary over the previous two seasons. In 2024, O’Neil coached Kerby Joseph to an All-Pro season and Brian Branch to a Pro Bowl season, but maybe even more impressive is the work he did in 2025 when the Lions suffered injury after injury amongst their safeties.

After losing Joseph and Branch (and rookie Dan Jackson in training camp), O’Neil helped develop Thomas Harper (a cutdown waiver claim) into a reliable starter, put Erick Hallett in a position to be recognized enough to have the Titans claim him for their active roster, and prepared veterans Avonte Maddox and Daniel Thomas for late-season starting roles (where both put up career PFF grades).

In all, O’Neil coached and/or developed eight (!) different players for starting safety roles in 2025, with many playing some of the best football they’ve played in their careers.

With injury concerns surrounding Joseph, Branch’s road to recovery still being determined, and the importance of the Lions’ safeties in their scheme, O’Neil’s return could end up being a massive component for the Lions’ defensive success in 2026.

Make sure to check out our 2026 Detroit Lions coaches tracker for all the latest news and rumors on the team’s coaching staff.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...n-important-defensive-coach-with-new-contract

 

[Detroit Lions]

Former Lions coach Tanner Engstrand lasts just 1 season with Jets, Aaron Glenn

Last year, many believed the Detroit Lions were going to promote internally when offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left to become the Chicago Bears’ head coach. Among the internal names most likely to take that job was then pass game coordinator Tanner Engstrand. The Lions obviously opted to go elsewhere, and Engstrand ended up following Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets as their offensive coordinator.

Engstrand lasted just a year with the Jets and Glenn, as there are now multiple reports that New York has parted ways with the young offensive coordinator. There appeared to be initial plans to strip him of play-calling duties, but after discussions between Glenn and Engstrand, the two sides are splitting after an extremely disappointing 3-14 season in 2025.

Opinions on Engstrand’s first year as offensive coordinator were certainly mixed. The Jets finished 29th in points scored, averaging just 17.6 points per game, but their issues ran deep. They didn’t have a quarterback they could trust, their defense wasn’t helping them play complementary football, and their skill positions weren’t filled with a ton of talent. On the positive side, despite their struggles, Engstrand helped develop a running game that finished 10th in total yards, and some believe he showed some promise as a first-time play caller.

It has been a turbulent first year for Glenn and the Jets. Not only did they finish with just three wins, but Glenn has now parted ways with a huge faction of his coaching staff after just one year. The following coaches were fired:

• Offensive coordinator
• Defensive coordinator
• QB coach
• Pass game coordinator
• DL coach
• Two defensive assistants
• LB coach

As for Engstrand, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him land an opportunity quickly. He obviously has roots with both the Lions and the Bears (Johnson). He’s also coached under Jim Harbaugh, so he could join the Chargers’ offensive staff under new coordinator Mike McDaniel.

Is there room for Engstrand with the Lions? It’s hard to say without knowing Mike Kafka’s specific role, but it’s worth pointing out that Engstrand was the team’s tight end coach in 2022, and that appears to be a current vacancy on Detroit’s coaching staff after Tyler Roehl left this offseason to become Iowa State’s offensive coordinator.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...and-lasts-just-1-season-with-jets-aaron-glenn

 

[Detroit Lions]

Breaking down Detroit Lions’ 2 massive offseason decisions at RB

The Detroit Lions head into 2026 with a full set of running backs under contract, but they have two massive questions ahead. I’m going to break down each of those decisions in full here, as we continue our 2025 recap/2026 offseason positional preview. If you missed it, the series kicked off on Monday with a breakdown of the Lions’ quarterback situation.

Lions 2025 recap: Running backs​

Jahmyr Gibbs stats:

• 1,223 rushing yards (seventh in NFL)
• 5.0 yards per carry (eighth)
• 13 rushing TDs (t-fourth)
• 48.1% rushing success rate (34th)
• 616 receiving yards (third)

David Montgomery stats:

• 716 rushing yards (30th in NFL)
• 4.5 yards per carry (21st)
• 8 rushing TDs (t-12th)
• 48.1% rushing success rate (35th)
• 192 receiving yards (37th)

Gibbs enjoyed another monster year, but his numbers come with some caveats. On the positive side, Gibbs was arguably the most explosive back in football. He finished the year third in rushes of 20+ yards, second in rushes of 30+ yards, and he was the only back with more than four rushes of 40+ yards (he had six).

But his efficiency in between those explosive plays was down massively. Both Gibbs and Montgomery had success rates in the top-10 last year (Montgomery 55.1%, Gibbs 53.1%), but dropped out of the top-30 this year. Because both saw nearly identical drops this past season, it stands to reason many of the rushing issues can be attributed to the offensive line, which I broke down in fuller detail here.

Outlook for 2026​

Currently under contract:

• RB Jahmyr Gibbs (signed through 2026)
• RB David Montgomery (2027)
• RB Sione Vaki (2027)
• RB Jacob Saylors (2026)
• RB Jabari Small (futures deal)

Note: It’s unclear what the status of Kye Robichaux is. He was waived with an injury designation and reverted to the Lions’ IR back in August, but there is no sign of him anywhere on the Lions’ roster, nor was there any publicly reported injury settlement.

Free agents

• None

Despite having a full stable of backs for 2026, the Lions have significant work to do in the running backs room, and it surrounds two major decisions: a potential Jahmyr Gibbs extension and whether to trade or keep David Montgomery. Let’s break down each one individually.

Jahmyr Gibbs extension

Before the pressure is put on both sides to come to an agreement on a new contract, the Lions will have to decide on Gibbs’ fifth-year option by the May 1 deadline. It’s a near-certainty Detroit will exercise that option, giving Gibbs a 2027 season under contract worth an estimated, fully guaranteed $14.1 million.

After that, the Lions are likely to turn their attention to locking Gibbs up long-term. Detroit typically likes to get deals done with draft picks around this time in their NFL journey, although the timing of the agreement could come anywhere from March to mid-season. As of right now, the highest-paid running back in the NFL is Saquon Barkley, whose two-year, $41.2 million extension last year set the market at $20.6 million a year. What is fascinating about the current market is that the highest-paid backs are all on short-term deals like this:

• Barkley: two years, $41.2M
• Christian McCaffrey: two years, $38M
• Derrick Henry: two years, $30M
• Jonathan Taylor: three years, $42M

Will Gibbs reset the market, even though he’s not a work-horse back like the four players above? His production is not far off these players, so it certainly seems likely he’ll touch close to $20 million a year. But the length is probably the more interesting sticking point.

The Lions typically like to operate on a four-year deal for players coming off their rookie contract, but running back is one of those positions where there is danger in long-term deals. There are only four running backs currently on four-year contracts beyond their rookie deal:

• Josh Jacobs: Four years, $48M
• James Cook: Four years, $46M
• Chuba Hubbard: Four years, $33M
• Rhamondre Stevenson: Four years, $36M

Put it all together, and all signs point to the estimate that we provided last year: somewhere around four years, $84 million. That’s a hefty price to pay, and it blows the full value of any other NFL running back contract out of the water.

There is one more thing to consider, though: Bijan Robinson. Gibbs’ draft mate has had just as promising a start to his career with the Atlanta Falcons and is due for the same extension. It will be interesting to see which team gets the extension off first and what that deal will look like compared to the other.

David Montgomery trade?

To get you caught up on the situation, Montgomery’s role significantly changed in 2025. With Gibbs’ rise, Montgomery was no longer the team’s starting running back. Gibbs literally started all 17 games after Montgomery started every single game he was healthy for in 2024.

Montgomery was still a part of the team’s game plan each week, and the coaching staff insisted several times throughout the year that they wanted to get him more involved. But that didn’t ever really materialize, as the Lions found themselves trailing more often than in previous years and saw struggles on offense that led to shortened drives and fewer opportunities.

As a team, the Lions had 55 fewer plays on offense and 92 fewer rushes than in 2024. Montgomery’s production saw the biggest decline in the backfield, seeing his rushing attempts drop 14.6% and his receiving targets drop 23.7%.

As a result, it certainly seems like there’s discontent from Montgomery’s end. While the Lions veteran running back hasn’t outright said anything publicly—unless you want to try to interpret some vague social media posts—Lions general manager Brad Holmes certainly seemed to imply that there was some friction right now.

“Those are discussions that we’re going to have to have a lot more in depth in terms of what is the best plan for him going forward, is it somewhere else or whatever the case be,” Holmes said earlier this month. “Just really appreciate everything that he has done for us, if it does end up going that way. I hope it doesn’t because we love David Montgomery. He’s a good football player and wish that we would’ve been able to get more utilization from him. I know Dan (Campbell) feels the same way. But those are conversations that we’re going to have to have because I’ve got a lot of respect for that player. He deserves to be in a situation where his skillset can be utilized.”

In that statement, Holmes expressed a clear desire to keep him, but essentially admits his skillset was not optimally utilized this past year. Can that change this year with the addition of Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator and—hopefully—a team that is playing with the lead more often? Sure, but it sure sounds like Montgomery will need some convincing.

If he can’t be convinced, what would a trade look like? Well, don’t expect much for a back who will be 29 years old and comes with a $5.5 million salary. Here are the last six trades involving a running back:

• Tank Bigsby
  • Eagles get: RB Tank Bigsby
  • Jaguars get: 5th-round pick, 6th-round pick
• Brian Robinson
  • 49ers get: RB Brian Robinson
  • Commanders get: Conditional 6th-round pick
• Jordan Mason
  • Vikings get: RB Jordan Mason, 6th-round pick
  • 49ers get: 5th-round pick, future 6th-round pick
• Khalil Herbert
  • Bengals get: RB Khalil Herbert
  • Bears get: 7th-round pick
• Cam Akers
  • Vikings get: RB Cam Akers, conditional 7th-round pick
  • Texans get: Conditional 6th-round pick
• Joe Mixon
  • Texans get: RB Joe Mixon
  • Bengals get: 7th-round pick

So, at best, the Lions would get a fifth-round pick. More likely, they’re getting a sixth-round pick or a swap of late Day 3 picks. It’s not much, but it would be doing the player right and would also clear up nearly $5 million in cap space.

Personally, I think the Lions would be best served to mend fences with Montgomery—they’ve got enough holes to fill this offseason—but I do admire their insistence on working within Montgomery’s preferences.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...jahmyr-gibbs-extension-david-montgomery-trade

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions GM Brad Holmes offers initial thoughts on Drew Petzing, Mike Kafka

On Monday, the Detroit Lions made the hiring of Drew Petzing as the team’s next offensive coordinator official. But with no introductory press conference currently scheduled, or a statement from the Lions front office, there hasn’t been much information on why the Lions made that decision. Hours later, the Lions reportedly hired Mike Kafka for a high-ranking offensive coach role, and that remains unofficial.

But the Lions broke their silence this week down at the Senior Bowl, when the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett caught up with Lions general manager Brad Holmes to ask about both hires. Holmes didn’t provide a ton of information on both, but there were a couple of interesting quotes from him.

For one, Holmes made it clear that they weren’t hiring an offensive coordinator to run a predetermined scheme. Petzing will have the opportunity to run what he wants to run.

“Look, it’s his offense,” Holmes said. “It’s not something where he’s got to do something else or be like—this is his show, man.”

As for what that offense may look like, Holmes didn’t provide any details. In fact, he said that part of the appeal of Petzing was that he wasn’t scheme-specific. Rather, he’s shown an ability to adapt and adjust based on the personnel available—as evidenced by the Cardinals’ ever-changing strategy over the past three years amidst a plethora of injuries.

“What I liked about him is that it’s not a system,” Holmes told Birkett. “It’s what you do you have, what’s the personnel that you have. Like, what can we do? And so that’s what I think he showed us in that process is that he can maximize personnel of what’s available. So that’s real exciting.”

As for Kafka, it certainly sounds like Holmes was very pleasantly surprised to be able to add him to the staff. They had come away very impressed by Kafka during his interview for the offensive coordinator job, and I think it’s fair to say Holmes didn’t think he would be able to add both him and Petzing to the staff.

“We were really high on Kafka, too, in the process, and so to be able to get that one, too, I was just like, ‘Holy cow,’” Holmes said.

Holmes didn’t provide any clarity on what Kafka’s role, just confirming it was a high-ranking role that will be specified later this offseason.

Currently, there is no scheduled media availability to talk to Petzing, Kafka, or head coach Dan Campbell for further clarification on the hires. However, traditionally the Lions make Campbell, Holmes, and any new coordinator hires are available to the media during the NFL Combine, which is scheduled for the end of February.

For now, you can read more on Holmes in Birkett’s full article over at the Free Press.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...s-initial-thoughts-on-drew-petzing-mike-kafka

 

[Detroit Lions]

Lions’ Penei Sewell nominated for first ever OL award

The NFL Honors ceremony, which presents the league’s post-season awards, is next week, and for the first time ever, it will include the Protector of the Year award. The award will be given to the best offensive lineman of the 2025 season. As expected, Detroit Lions right tackle Penei Sewell is a finalist for the award.

The other five finalists are:

• Broncos OT Garett Bolles
• Broncos G Quinn Meinerz
• Bears G Joe Thuney
• Dolphins C Aaron Brewer
• Chiefs C Creed Humphrey

For Sewell, this is the latest in several honors for the former first-round pick. Earlier this offseason, Sewell was named First-Team All Pro for the third consecutive season, and he has now made four straight Pro Bowls. PFF also named Sewell their Protector of the Year after posting a 95.5 PFF grade, best among all offensive lineman.

“The fifth-year right tackle’s PFF overall grade (95.5) ranks third among all offensive linemen over the past three seasons and first among right tackles in that span,” PFF’s Zoltán Buday wrote. “While his PFF run-blocking grade (95.1) is the highest by any right tackle over the past five years and trails only Trent Williams’ 2021 season among all offensive linemen.”

The official Protector of the Year award is voted on by a panel of former offensive linemen based on the following criteria: skill metrics, impactx, leadership, durability, and strength of opponent. To learn more about the award, check out the official NFL’s announcement here.

To see if Sewell walks away with the award, you can watch the NFL Honors show on Thursday, Feb. 5 at 9 p.m. ET on NBC and NFL Network. Aidan Hutchinson is the only other Lion up for an award. He is a finalist for both Defensive Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year.

Source: https://www.prideofdetroit.com/detr...enei-sewell-nominated-for-first-ever-ol-award