Jahmyr Gibbs says the Lions look far ahead of where they were a year ago, crediting the pace of the offseason work and new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s demanding approach as Detroit chases a bounce-back season.
Jahmyr Gibbs didn’t sound guarded when he talked about the Lions’ offseason. He sounded energized.
While there were expectations in the summer that Detroit’s running back might sit out until he receives a new contract. Gibbs has been showing up for voluntary practices. In those sessions. he’s been focusing on one message: the team is already operating at a higher level than it was this time last year.
After last year’s disappointing season in Detroit, Gibbs believes this year’s Lions look like a better team. “The whole team is doing great. Like, we’re so far [ahead] of where we were last year at this time. Everybody’s playing fast,” Gibbs told ESPN. “Everybody knows what to do. It feels like we’re almost in season form.”.
That sense of momentum matters, because it comes after a season that left the Lions looking for answers. Gibbs’ confidence now isn’t just about personal progress—it’s about the way the offense is starting to line up, move, and execute.
New offensive coordinator Drew Petzing is a big part of the reason Gibbs believes the unit is getting sharper. Gibbs said Petzing is building the offense with big-play intent. “He’s smart. He’s demanding of us, but he knows we can do it,” Gibbs told ESPN. “He puts a lot on our plate, but like I said, he knows we can do it.”.
The expectations around Gibbs are high, and they’re showing up externally as well. He is the betting favorite to win the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award this season, a sign of just how much belief there is in what Petzing’s offense could bring out of him.
For Gibbs, though, the pressure seems less like weight and more like fuel. He’s treating this offseason—voluntary practices included—as a step toward a faster, more decisive team, one that he believes is already closer to “season form” than last year’s version of itself.
Jahmyr Gibbs Detroit Lions Drew Petzing NFL Offensive Player of the Year voluntary practices offseason offense
So he’s “ahead” now? Lions were trash last year so I’ll believe it when they win a real game. Betting favorite for OPOY already is wild.
I didn’t even know they had a new offensive coordinator lol. If Petzing is “demanding” that probably means more plays and more injuries?? Just saying.
Bro Gibbs sitting out till he gets paid was the whole thing, and now he’s at voluntary stuff acting like it’s season form. Sounds like contract negotiations got solved or whatever.
“Everybody’s playing fast” is my favorite quote that never turns into wins. Last time Detroit said they were ahead of where they were… it wasn’t. Also how is betting favorite for Offensive Player of the Year already determined, like from practice??