Apr 8, 2026, 1:15 PM CUT

NFL Execs Highlight Major Lions Issue For NFL 2026, and It's Not the Players

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 21: Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff 16 and Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell 58 lead the team out of the tunnel during pregame introductions the Detroit Lions versus the Pittsburgh Steelers game on Sunday December 21, 2025 at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA DEC 21 Steelers at Lions EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon2582025122101335

The Detroit Lions witnessed a straight dip from 15-2 in 2024 to 9-8 in 2025. The NFL League insiders have pointed out a key concern surrounding the Detroit Lions heading into the 2026 season. Interestingly, the issues are more serious than player problems.

As reported by Sports Illustrated, while addressing the 2026 free agency, a set of league insiders have raised their concerns regarding the Lions' coaching staff.

“The biggest questions with Detroit remain on the coaching staff,” an exec shared his take in an interview with The Athletic. “Let’s see what (Drew) Petzing and (Mike) Kafka are able to infuse in terms of better ideas, better execution, more creative play calling, or whatever.”

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 03: Oakland Raiders Defensive End Maxx Crosby 98 rushes across the line during the NFL, American Football Herren, USA game between the Detroit Lions and Oakland Raiders on November 3, 2019 at RingCentral Coliseum in Oakland, CA. Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire NFL: NOV 03 Lions at Raiders PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon19110333

The Lions' front office took a bold move by replacing the coaching staff and starting with a clean slate. In January 2026, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing was hired from the Arizona Cardinals, replacing John Morton.

Detroit then hired high-ranking offensive assistant Mike Kafka as the pass game coordinator. Serving as the key piece in the development of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the brilliant offensive mind is looked upon by Dan Campbell.

But Detroit can no longer count on what the coaches have done in their previous stints. Right now, they have multiple holes to fix. The unexpected retirement of Frank Ragnow disrupted the offensive line’s chemistry, resulting in a shaky run game. In the process, Jared Goff faced frequent pressure.

Detroit’s third-down efficiency frequently fell short. It stalled drives and put the defense in unfavorable positions as a result. So, with a new staff, the Lions will face challenges in identifying the areas.

“You always have to go back and look at yourself and say, ‘Alright, what did we do well? What did we not?’ We’ve got to be careful," accepted Campbell.

Detroit Lions Dominance Over Ben Johnson’s Chicago Bears

The 2025 season started with Detroit losing the architect of their high-octane offense, Ben Johnson, to the Chicago Bears. But the Lions ensured to make the former coach regret his move.

In this lifelong rivalry within the NFC, the Lions defeated Chicago twice. Recalling the 2025 NFL season, the Motown team levelled the playing field with a crushing defeat of 52-21 at Ford Field in Week 2.

Similarly, in Week 17 at Soldier Field, it was 19-16, again giving Detroit fans the right to brag about their team. However, this time, Johnson is spreading the net against the Lions early.

In the free agency, the Lions lost return specialist Kalif Raymond to the Bears. Yet, an NFL analyst believes it will be an easier test for the Lions to beat the Bears this season.

“The Bears saw a mass exodus in their secondary as Kevin Byard III, Jaquan Brisker, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Nahshon Wright, and Jonathan Owens all signed one-year contracts with new teams,” noted Jovan Alford.

Whether Detroit's winning spree continues against Chicago depends on how well the Lions' new coaching staff performs. Share your thoughts in the comments.

Written by

Kunwar Yashaswee Chhaunker

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar