Detroit’s Offensive Upgrade Adds Pressure on Packers After Disappointing Finish
The Green Bay Packers didn’t just stumble out of the 2025 season-they faceplanted. A team that looked like an early NFC powerhouse couldn’t keep it together down the stretch, undone by injuries and a string of late-game miscues that ultimately cost them in the postseason.
That loss, especially to a division rival, still stings. And now, things aren’t getting any easier in the NFC North.
The Detroit Lions just made a move that should have everyone in Green Bay paying attention. Mike Kafka, the former New York Giants interim head coach and a key figure in Patrick Mahomes’ development during his time in Kansas City, is joining Dan Campbell’s staff in Detroit. The Lions are clearly not content with where their offense stands-and Kafka’s arrival signals they’re serious about getting it back on track.
This isn’t just another coaching hire. Kafka was on the radar for offensive coordinator openings around the league, including, reportedly, in Green Bay.
His background with the Chiefs-where he helped engineer one of the most dynamic passing attacks in recent memory-makes him a high-upside addition to an already talented Detroit roster. For the Packers, watching a division rival land a coach with that kind of résumé is a tough pill to swallow.
And it only adds to the growing list of concerns in Green Bay. Head coach Matt LaFleur and kicker Brandon McManus, both under scrutiny after the team’s playoff exit, are expected to return in 2026.
That continuity might offer some stability, but it doesn’t exactly scream “fresh start.” With Detroit retooling and Chicago continuing to build around a promising young core, the Packers risk falling behind in a division that’s getting more competitive by the day.
This is the kind of offseason move that Green Bay could have used-an injection of new energy, a fresh voice in the offensive room, someone to take pressure off LaFleur and offer a new perspective. Instead, they’ve opted for continuity.
While they did bring in former Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon to run the defense, that hire feels more like maintaining the status quo than pushing the envelope. Gannon replaces Jeff Hafley, who led a strong defensive unit in 2025, so the hope is that the group doesn’t miss a beat.
But on offense, the Packers are standing pat while the rest of the division is making moves.
Meanwhile, the Lions aren’t the only ones making noise. The Bears secured the return of offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, keeping him on Ben Johnson’s staff. That kind of coaching consistency, paired with the young talent in Chicago, only adds to the sense that the NFC North is shifting-and not in Green Bay’s favor.
For Packers fans, the frustration is real. Watching Detroit and Chicago make strategic moves while the Packers try to regroup after a collapse is a tough offseason reality.
If Green Bay wants to avoid falling further behind, they’ll need to nail the rest of this offseason-through the draft, through free agency, and through internal development. Otherwise, the way the 2025 season ended might not be a fluke.
It could be the start of a trend.