Detroit Lions Hire Drew Petzing To Revamp Offense

The Detroit Lions have made a decisive move to reshape their offensive future, hiring Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator. The official announcement, made on January 19, 2026, ends a two-week search for a successor to John Morton, who was dismissed just days after the Lions closed their 2025 season with a 9-8 record and missed the playoffs. Petzing arrives in Detroit after a three-year stint as the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator, bringing with him a reputation for creative run schemes and a coaching pedigree forged across multiple NFL teams.

Petzing’s journey to this high-profile NFC North role is anything but ordinary. The 38-year-old began his coaching career as a student assistant at Harvard in 2009, then bounced between Boston College and Yale before landing an NFL internship with the Cleveland Browns in 2013. He went on to coach wide receivers and quarterbacks for the Minnesota Vikings (2016-2019), then quarterbacks and tight ends with the Browns (2020-2022). By 2023, Petzing was calling plays in Arizona under head coach Jonathan Gannon, who was let go after a dismal 3-14 campaign in 2025.

Detroit’s decision to tap Petzing comes at a pivotal time. The Lions, who finished the season ranked fourth in scoring and fifth in yards per game, nonetheless saw a step back in offensive consistency. Head coach Dan Campbell, known for his aggressive style, assumed play-calling duties midway through the 2025 season, hoping to spark a turnaround. But the team ultimately fell short of the postseason after back-to-back playoff appearances, and the search for a new offensive architect became a top priority.

Petzing’s track record in Arizona was a mixed bag, shaped by significant injury woes and roster instability. In 2025, the Cardinals’ offense ranked just 23rd in scoring, 26th in passing, and 16th in rushing. Star quarterback Kyler Murray played only five games, while top running back James Conner was sidelined after three. Veteran Jacoby Brissett was thrust into the starting role, attempting more than 30 passes in each of his 12 starts—seven times exceeding 40 attempts. Tight end Trey McBride became a focal point, hauling in a record-setting 126 receptions in his fourth season, a testament to Petzing’s knack for maximizing the tight end position.

Despite the challenges, Petzing’s earlier seasons in Arizona showcased his ability to engineer a dominant ground game. The Cardinals boasted a top-five rushing attack in both 2023 and 2024, peaking at second in the league in 2024 with an impressive 5.3 yards per carry. That year, Arizona’s offense ranked 12th in scoring and 14th in passing, fueled by a healthy roster and a dynamic running scheme. Conner notched the only two 1,000-yard rushing seasons of his nine-year career under Petzing’s direction, highlighting the coordinator’s impact on the run game.

For Detroit, the hire signals a commitment to reinvigorating an offense loaded with talent but searching for greater consistency. Quarterback Jared Goff remains the franchise centerpiece, flanked by All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, dynamic running back Jahmyr Gibbs, and speedy receiver Jameson Williams—who’s coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. The offensive line is anchored by Penei Sewell, widely regarded as one of the league’s best. Yet, the Lions struggled to establish the run in 2025, failing to reach 100 yards on the ground in seven games, all of which resulted in losses. This glaring weakness likely made Petzing’s expertise in rushing schemes especially attractive to Detroit’s front office.

General manager Brad Holmes emphasized the qualities he sought in the new offensive coordinator: “You just have to be able to know that there’s somebody that’s going to be able to dot every ‘I,’ cross every ‘T’ and make sure that nothing is compromised from a detail standpoint, from a standards standpoint, from the start of the game-planning period all the way ‘till the end of the week,” Holmes said earlier this month. “So, I do think a lot of it is just you’ve got to just get in front of them, hear them out, spend some time with them and kind of hear their ideas, hear their philosophy, do a lot of vetting—as much vetting as you can—and just make the decision. But I think when you go through the process of getting in front of them, when you know, you know.”

One intriguing wrinkle: Petzing has never worked with Dan Campbell, so questions linger about how much autonomy he’ll have over the offense. Campbell, an offensive-minded coach himself, has twice stepped in as play-caller during his five-season tenure. At his year-end press conference, Campbell addressed the prospect of relinquishing those duties: “I guess one of the good things, if I did do that (keep the role), you don’t have to worry about somebody else leaving. You don’t have to worry about your play-caller leaving. So, that would be one of the perks of it. But listen, I’m going to think through all of that, and I think I really want to do what I feel is best for the team—and that included. If I believe that’s what’s best for us and I feel good about it, then I will. If I just feel like, ‘Eh,’ then I won’t do it. I won’t do it.”

There’s another layer of intrigue in Allen Park: Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard is reportedly in the mix for a head coaching job, adding another potential shakeup to the staff. Meanwhile, former coordinator John Morton, who was initially brought in to replace Ben Johnson (now head coach of the Chicago Bears), departs after losing play-calling responsibilities midway through the season.

Petzing’s arrival is not without skepticism. Some fans and analysts question whether the Lions should have aimed higher, given the coveted nature of the position and the abundance of available coaching talent. After all, Detroit’s offensive coordinator job is considered one of the most appealing in the NFL, thanks to its roster strength and recent success. But Petzing’s connection to key figures—he’s reportedly close with former Lions OC Ben Johnson, with whom he worked at Boston College—may have helped tip the scales in his favor.

Photos from Petzing’s Cardinals tenure, including shots of him calling plays during training camp and games at State Farm Stadium, underscore his hands-on approach and visible presence on the sideline. He’s been a fixture in Arizona since 2023, guiding the offense through highs and lows while developing a reputation for adaptability and detail-oriented preparation.

The stage is now set for a critical offseason in Detroit. The Lions must address lingering injuries, particularly to tight end Sam LaPorta, and fortify their offensive line. With Petzing at the helm, the expectation is clear: get the most out of a talented core and restore the Lions’ offensive bite. As the team weighs whether Campbell or Petzing will handle play-calling duties, fans and players alike are eager to see if this new chapter can deliver on its promise.

One thing’s for sure—Detroit’s offense won’t lack for storylines as the 2026 season approaches. Whether Petzing’s run-first pedigree and attention to detail can ignite a return to playoff contention remains the burning question in Motown.