Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing was clear: Jared Goff will play an instrumental role in implementing the team’s new playbook heading into the 2026 season.
Earlier in the week, Petzing spoke to Detroit media for the first time since taking his new position, joining local beat writers Erik Schlitt and Jeremy Reisman from Pride of Detroit for an exclusive Q&A segment.
In the nearly 30-minute interview, he shared his vision for the Lions offense, detailing early conversations with Goff and his excitement to work with him.
“He’s been awesome, and he’s as impressive a quarterback as I’ve seen watching tape,” Petzing said. “I think it’s one of those things where, when you’re not in the division, and we played him two years ago but didn’t have a ton of overlap, you see him on TV here and there and think, ‘Oh, it seems like he’s playing well.’ Then, coming into the interview process and watching the tape, you really start to appreciate how good he really is and the level he’s been playing at over these last couple of years.”
Petzing continued, “As a play caller, as a coach, really at any position on offense, when you have a guy who sees the game the way he does and can operate the way he does, the rhythm, the timing, and the vision are really impressive. Having the physical tools to put the ball where it needs to be placed, with touch but also with some violence in his throwing motion, is huge. Yes, he’s a pocket passer, but he’s made some great plays in the keeper game on the move.
“There are just so many things he does at a really high level that put stress on a defense. When you know a guy can see the field, check in and out of plays, get in and out of the huddle, those are little things that get taken for granted at times, but make a massive difference in how an offense operates and the success of a team. He’s done that at such a high level for such a long time.”
Petzing, who served as the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator for the previous three seasons, has experience coaching quarterbacks with both different and similar skill sets to Goff.
He’s worked with Kyler Murray, who is commonly identified among the league’s mobile quarterbacks, and Jacoby Brissett, who, like Goff, operates mainly from the pocket.
While Petzing acknowledged that Goff is “a little bit more gifted” and has played at a higher level than Brissett, he also emphasized a core truth about the quarterback position — one that Goff has consistently proven, regardless of skill set.
“At the end of the day in this league, at some point you’re going to have to win the game from the pocket,” Petzing said. “When you play a great defense, they’re not going to miss on the pass rush, and if they are, they’re good enough to bring five or six guys to make sure they don’t. I think that’s true of any quarterback in this league, and (Goff’s) done that so consistently.
“That’s where you get really excited as a coach. Talking to him, his love of the game, his willingness to work, to grind it out, to be demanding of his teammates, but also allow me to be demanding of him, is really special. I’m just really excited to get to work with him.”
Schlitt and Reisman also inquired about Goff’s role in the implementation of Petzing’s offense. It’s well known that Goff and former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who now coaches the Chicago Bears, worked together heavily on Detroit’s scheme.
The collaboration led to Lions being one of the NFL’s top offenses during Johnson’s time in Detroit.
Johnson’s move to Chicago prompted the Lions to bring back former assistant John Morton to fill the offensive coordinator vacancy. The Lions maintained a high-scoring offense under Morton, but playcalling and execution issues persisted throughout the season.
As a result, coach Dan Campbell stripped Morton of playcalling duties and fired him 48 hours after the regular season ended.
Understanding how important the quarterback-offensive coordinator relationship is, when it comes time to developing the scheme he will roll out in Detroit, along with the preparation in the week leading up to game day, Petzing said he will lean on Goff “immensely.”
“I think that has to be that way with whoever the guy is. In this case, Jared is going to have the ball in his hand. He needs to know the whys, he needs to know the ins, and he needs to have a voice in it,” Petzing said. “He needs to speak up, and he will do a great job of that. I know him a little bit at this point. Like (saying’) I’m (not) comfortable with that’ or ‘I don’t like that. I want this.’ (Or) ‘Do we think this is good?’ (or) ‘Like, hey, push me on this.’ In a lot of ways, to me, a good quarterback–play caller relationship, he’s another coordinator on staff. He’s another coach on staff because of how much time is required to play that position at a high level, and how we don’t do anything without the quarterback touching the ball.
“So everything we do has to be based around his skill set, making him comfortable, allowing him to see the game the way that he thinks he sees it best. Then I can do some things and involve some things that, ‘hey, you haven’t done this, but I think this is going to fit really well. Here’s why. Here’s how. Let’s take a look at it. Are you seeing this the same way I do? Let’s take a couple of reps of it. Oh yeah, you’re on it. Or, alright, hey, you’re not feeling that, we’ve got other ways to go.’ I think all of that is kind of the ever-evolving offense that you guys will see on the field, but that relationship, that communication, is as important as anything.”
The 2026 NFL scouting combine is set to take place in Indianapolis during the last week of February. At that time, Petzing will likely speak with more media, including local Lions beat reporters, as was the case last year following the Lions’ hiring of Morton.