Jared Goff’s Praise for Drew Petzing Is an Encouraging Sign for the Lions

The Detroit Lions are entering a pivotal 2026 season with a new offensive coordinator, and quarterback Jared Goff sounds thrilled with the transition so far.

After a disappointing 9-8 campaign that saw Detroit miss the playoffs, the Lions turned to former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing to help get the offense back on track. While any coordinator change can bring uncertainty, Goff’s recent comments to Bleacher Report suggest the partnership is already off to a strong start.

More than anything, Goff emphasized the communication between himself and Petzing.

Jared Goff Loves Petzing’s Collaborative Approach

Speaking about the new coordinator, Goff highlighted how open and honest the working relationship has been during the offseason.

“He really has been great to work with. Our communication has been awesome, very open,” Goff said.

For a veteran quarterback entering his second coordinator change in as many years, that type of relationship is critical. Goff explained that he’s able to openly discuss concepts he likes and dislikes while Petzing does the same.

“I’m able to express what I like, what I don’t like, and he’s able to tell me the same things of why he wants something or why he doesn’t want something,” Goff said. “And it’s a lot of fun.”

Those comments should be encouraging for Lions fans.

The best offenses are often built through collaboration between quarterbacks and play-callers, and it sounds like that process is already well underway in Detroit.

Lions Still Building the Offense

While offseason practices provided an introduction to Petzing’s system, Goff made it clear that the offense is still evolving.

According to the veteran quarterback, the primary goal during OTAs was figuring out what works best for both players and coaches.

“I think a lot of what OTAs and the early offseason is is getting a feel for each other,” Goff said. “And then, as we get into training camp, you start really solidifying a lot of that.”

Training camp later this month will provide the first real opportunity for the offense to operate as a complete unit under Petzing’s leadership.

That’s when Detroit will begin shaping the identity it hopes can return the team to championship contention.

Goff Helping Teammates Adapt

One advantage Petzing has is working with a veteran quarterback who already has deep relationships throughout the offense.

Goff said his experience with stars like Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Jameson Williams has allowed him to help teammates understand new concepts more quickly.

“We’ve got such great experience with each other,” Goff explained. “When something new comes in that we’re running, I can talk about something that we had done previously and relate it to that.”

That familiarity should make the transition smoother as the Lions install new wrinkles into their offense.

Detroit Looking for a Bounce-Back Year

The coordinator hire comes after a frustrating 2025 season.

The Lions entered last year with Super Bowl expectations but ultimately fell short, finishing 9-8 and missing the postseason. The disappointing result led to significant changes, including Petzing’s arrival.

Now the pressure is on to reverse course.

Detroit faces a difficult schedule, including early matchups against Green Bay and Minnesota, along with an international game against the New England Patriots in Germany.

To navigate that schedule, the Lions will need Goff at his best.

Offensive Line Could Be Key

Goff also pointed to the offensive line as a major area of focus entering training camp.

After taking a career-high 38 sacks last season, he praised Detroit’s offseason additions and the depth currently on the roster.

“This is the deepest I feel like we’ve been at the offensive line,” Goff said.

The Lions added several veterans and invested in tackle Blake Miller, creating what Goff believes will be intense competition for roster spots.

A stronger offensive line would not only help reduce sacks but also allow Petzing’s offense to operate more efficiently.

Early Reviews Are Extremely Positive

The most notable takeaway from Goff’s comments is simple: he genuinely sounds excited about working with Petzing.

Rather than offering generic offseason praise, Goff repeatedly emphasized communication, collaboration, and mutual respect. Those qualities often lay the foundation for successful quarterback-coordinator relationships.

The real evaluation won’t come until games begin this fall, but the early signs are promising.

After a disappointing 2025 season, the Lions needed a fresh start offensively. Based on Goff’s comments, Drew Petzing may already be providing exactly that.