By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions might be officially in offseason mode, but Dan Campbell clearly isn’t in “sit back and relax” territory. If anything, Detroit looks restless — and that sense of urgency is starting to ripple across the NFC North, all the way to Chicago.
While fans are debating draft boards and free agents, the Lions are quietly making moves that feel deliberate, layered, and maybe even a little pointed.
Campbell Isn’t Waiting for the Season to Start
Campbell has always preached that what you do in the offseason shows up in the fall. And the Lions’ early coaching decisions for the 2026–27 season fit that mindset perfectly.
Detroit moved quickly to replace offensive coordinator John Morton by hiring Drew Petzing, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals. Petzing’s offenses ranked second in the NFL in rushing average and ninth in rushing yards from 2023–25. That kind of production matters — even if Arizona’s overall record left some questions.
Still, Petzing wasn’t the move that really turned heads.
Mike Kafka Changes the Tone
The real jolt came with Detroit adding Mike Kafka in a “high-ranking offensive” role. Kafka recently served as interim head coach for the New York Giants, going 2–5 in a tough stretch riddled with injuries. Context matters — and around the league, Kafka’s résumé still carries weight.
Especially in Chicago.
Why Ben Johnson Should Be Paying Attention
Nick Halden of Da Windy City didn’t mince words when reacting to Kafka’s arrival in Detroit, writing that Ben Johnson should be “concerned.”
“Adding Kafka pushes the Lions in this direction and reminds Chicago of the need for an aggressive offseason despite the accomplishments of the past season,” Halden noted.
That line says a lot. The Bears are no longer the plucky surprise — they’re defending division champs, and that changes expectations fast.
Halden doubled down on the urgency:
“Now is the moment that the coaching staff and front office must prove that this season wasn’t an outlier but a fair expectation of the years ahead.”
That’s pressure — not panic, but pressure all the same.
The NFC North Arms Race Is Real
What makes Kafka’s hire sting a bit more for Chicago is the broader context. For weeks, there was speculation that Kafka might land with the Green Bay Packers. Instead, he ends up in Detroit — right in the Bears’ path.
“No question, Detroit hiring Kafka has to grab their attention and demand a higher sense of offseason urgency,” Halden added.
Kafka’s earlier work with the Kansas City Chiefs — helping guide Patrick Mahomes through some of his most prolific seasons — only sharpens the point. This isn’t just depth. It’s experience, adaptability, and forward thinking.
Detroit’s Message Is Clear
The Lions aren’t celebrating last season. They’re stacking ideas, voices, and options. And in doing so, they’re quietly telling the rest of the division: catch up or get passed.
Ben Johnson and the Bears don’t have much to fix — but in a division this competitive, even small tweaks matter. Detroit knows that. And their urgency is already showing.