The Detroit Lions’ search for a new offensive coordinator ended with a bit of a curveball, as Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes landed on former Arizona Cardinals OC Drew Petzing. At first glance, the move might raise eyebrows. After all, Arizona won just three games in 2025. But dig a little deeper, and this hire starts to make a lot more sense, and even comes with a spicy side plot Lions fans will love.
Petzing’s reputation around the league isn’t built on win-loss records alone. His work with Kyler Murray, particularly during Arizona’s 2024 bounce-back season, caught the attention of multiple teams. That year, the Cardinals jumped from three wins to eight, and Murray played some of the best football of his career. Injuries and roster limitations derailed things later, but the offensive foundation Petzing installed still earned respect across the NFL.
Here’s where it gets fun for Detroit fans: before landing in Motor City, Petzing was on the Chicago Bears’ radar during their head coaching search. Chicago ultimately went with Ben Johnson, throwing big money at the former Lions OC. Now, Petzing ends up in Detroit — one of the Bears’ biggest rivals — with a loaded offensive roster and a chance to make those interviews look like a missed opportunity.
Petzing also fits neatly into the Lions’ culture. He comes from Kevin Stefanski’s run-centric system in Cleveland, which aligns with Detroit’s physical identity. He already has a strong relationship with Johnson from their days together at Boston College, and the two remain close personally. In other words, this isn’t some random outside hire; it’s a coach who understands the offensive DNA the Lions want to keep building.
If Petzing clicks, the Lions may have found a long-term play-caller who can keep the offense elite and add a little extra edge when Chicago comes to town. And if that first matchup in 2026 ends with a Detroit win? Beating the Bears with a coach they once pursued would make it all the sweeter.
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