Breaking Down the Detroit Lions’ Biggest Coaching Additions for 2026

Detroit made plenty of moves this offseason, and not all of them involved players. The Lions added three notable coaches to the staff: Mike Kafka, former Lions offensive lineman Dan Skipper, and the biggest hire of them all, Drew Petzing. With a new wave of coaches joining the organization, each brings a unique coaching style and valuable experience that could have a major impact on Detroit in 2026.

Drew Petzing

Petzing is obviously the biggest hire of the group, taking over for John Morton as offensive coordinator. He spent the past three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals as their offensive coordinator, but his coaching career began in 2009 as a volunteer assistant at Harvard.

After spending one year there, Petzing moved to Boston College as a graduate assistant before wrapping up his college coaching career at Yale, where he served as the outside linebackers coach. Working at prestigious programs like Harvard and Yale, you have to imagine he’s an extremely intelligent coach.

His NFL career began as a football operations intern with the Cleveland Browns. From 2014 to 2019, he held several roles with the Minnesota Vikings, serving as an offensive assistant, assistant wide receivers coach, assistant quarterbacks coach, and eventually wide receivers coach. He then returned to Cleveland, where he coached tight ends and quarterbacks from 2020 through 2022.

Petzing earned his first opportunity as an offensive coordinator with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023, spending three seasons leading the offense. Along the way, he worked under respected head coaches Mike Zimmer and Kevin Stefanski. That experience is exactly what Detroit was looking for, especially considering former offensive coordinator John Morton had only one previous season calling plays before joining the Lions.

Petzing also played a significant role in the emergence of All-Pro tight end Trey McBride. While many Lions fans had never heard of him before he arrived in Detroit, he’s already begun making a strong impression, earning praise from defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard and Dan Campbell.

At just 39 years old, Petzing embraces the modern NFL. Expect to see multiple offensive formations, creative play designs, and plenty of ways to maximize the elite talent Detroit has on offense.

Mike Kafka

Kafka is one of my favorite hires of the offseason.

Last season, he took over as the New York Giants’ interim head coach after Brian Daboll stepped aside. Kafka likely caught Detroit’s attention when the Giants nearly upset the Lions at Ford Field despite starting backup quarterback Jameis Winston.

Before New York, Kafka spent several years with the Kansas City Chiefs as quarterbacks coach, helping Patrick Mahomes win his first NFL MVP. Mahomes has even credited Kafka with playing a major role in that MVP campaign.

Another reason Kafka was brought to Detroit is because Dan Campbell can relate to him. Both coaches served as interim head coaches before becoming assistant head coaches. Campbell had high praise for Kafka, saying:

“You’ve got to humble yourself,” Campbell said. “He’s been unbelievable. He’s a thinker… A lot of it, he’s finding his way… he fits right in.”

Kafka has also become a big fan of Jared Goff. During a recent media session, he praised Detroit’s quarterback, saying:

“This guy’s like a sniper. He’s so accurate. I didn’t realize how accurate he was until I got here.”

Having someone with head coaching experience on staff should be another valuable resource for Campbell throughout the season.

Dan Skipper

After retiring from the NFL, Dan Skipper made the transition from player to coach, joining Detroit as an assistant offensive line coach.

Skipper first joined the Lions in 2017 before returning in 2019, where he remained for the rest of his playing career. During his time in Detroit, he appeared in 66 games, making 16 starts, and even caught a touchdown pass. More importantly, he became one of the most beloved players in the locker room and among the fan base.

Now, Skipper brings instant credibility to the offensive line room. Having played in Dan Campbell’s system and learned under legendary offensive line coach Hank Fraley, he understands exactly what Detroit expects from its linemen.

Campbell has already praised Skipper’s natural coaching ability, calling him “a natural.” Skipper also brings an underdog mentality to the staff. Once a practice squad player who was cut during HBO’s Hard Knocks, he fought his way into becoming a reliable NFL starter. That journey gives him a unique perspective that players can relate to and respect.

Overall

These coaching additions could prove to be just as impactful as any player the Lions added this offseason, with Petzing leading the way.

A great offensive coordinator can be the difference between a playoff team and a Super Bowl contender. Adding someone with Petzing’s experience, along with a coach like Kafka who has head coaching experience, should allow Dan Campbell to focus more on leading the team rather than worrying about every small detail, such as challenges, clock management, and game-day decisions.

If these hires perform the way Detroit believes they can, the Lions’ coaching staff could be one of the strongest in the NFL.