The Detroit Lions have found their next offensive coordinator, and it’s a name that few saw coming.
According to a report from NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Lions are finalizing a deal to hire former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing to take over their offense. The move comes as Detroit continues reshaping its coaching staff following the departure of its previous OC.
UPDATE: This move is now official
Lions have hired Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 26, 2026
Petzing brings a diverse coaching background to Detroit. He began his career as a volunteer student assistant at Harvard in 2009 before working as a graduate assistant at Boston College. He later coached at Yale, then moved into the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings in a variety of roles, including wide receivers coach, tight ends coach, and quarterbacks coach. Most recently, Petzing served as the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals from 2023–2025.
One of the most interesting aspects of this hire is how quietly it came together. Prior to Schefter’s report, there had been virtually no public indication that the Lions were even considering Petzing for the job. No rumors, no reported interviews, no leaked shortlists — nothing.
That secrecy fits a familiar pattern under head coach Dan Campbell. When it comes to building his coaching staff, Campbell has consistently kept things close to the vest. Time and time again, key hires have surfaced only when deals were already near completion, catching both fans and media off guard.
Simply put, when Dan Campbell is targeting a coach, he doesn’t broadcast it. And with the surprise hiring of Drew Petzing, the Lions once again showed that their head coach prefers to operate quietly — then strike decisively.
