After a frustrating 2025 season, the Detroit Lions are hoping to fix the issues that plagued them and put themselves back in the playoff mix in 2026.
For as bad as things went for the Lions from a coaching and injury standpoint, things are slowly starting to look up for them. For starters, Detroit found its offensive coordinator in Drew Petzing, who will hopefully be an upgrade over John Morton.
The Lions will also have a fourth-place schedule, which should set them up for success in 2026. And now they will face a Packers squad twice next season that lost defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley to a head coaching position, and replaced him with… Jonathan Gannon.
Lions Should Be Chomping at the Bit to Face Packers’ Defense in 2026
On Sunday, multiple outlets reported that Green Bay hired the former Arizona Cardinals head coach to be their next defensive coordinator. The Cardinals fired Gannon earlier this month after three seasons as head coach.
If you asked anyone in the league who they would rather face in 2026, Hafley or Gannon, they’d all be in agreement on the latter.
This season, the Packers swept the two-game season series over the Lions. Hafley’s unit did a number on Jared Goff, sacking him seven times, and holding the veteran QB to three passing TDs and an interception. It's very likely Goff and the rest of the Lions’ offense will be happy not to see Hafley in the press box calling the shots.
Meanwhile, the Lions had success against Gannon, defeating the Cardinals 20-13 in Week 3. Goff had an efficient performance vs. AZ, completing 18-of-23 passes for 199 yards, 2 TDs, and an interception. He was also sacked twice.
However, the Cardinals’ defense didn’t have an answer for the Lions’ ground game, as they put up 187 yards and a touchdown.
As things currently stand heading into the next season, the Lions still have David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, along with Petzing, who knows Gannon’s tendencies. If Petzing lives up to what he did in Arizona, which was running the football, we could see a repeat of that 2024 performance in 2026 with a healthier offensive line.
Between Gannon having known flaws, Detroit's recent favorable success against him, and the fact the Lions have inside intel on him thanks to Petzing, this hiring works in the Motor City's favor.
The road to getting back to the top of the NFC North is taking down the Packers, and Dan Campbell looks to have the advantage already in the coordinator battle.