A report floating around suggests the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator search was even more extensive than initially reported.

According to Lions beat writer Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Detroit quietly conducted two additional interviews that never made it into the public eye. Per Payton, the Lions also spoke with former Stanford head coach David Shaw and Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees during their search process.

“There were two interviews the Lions had that weren’t reported,” Payton revealed. “The Lions interviewed David Shaw and Browns OC Tommy Rees.”

Those conversations flew under the radar while most of the focus centered on more widely reported candidates. Ultimately, however, Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes went in a different direction.

The Lions ended up hiring former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, officially naming him their new OC and offensive play-caller for the 2026 season. Petzing replaces John Morton after just one year and will now be tasked with guiding an offense built around Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, and one of the league’s most complete offensive lines.

The revelation that Detroit also evaluated Shaw and Rees only adds to the picture of how thorough and how quiet Campbell’s process really was. As has become a theme with this regime, key decisions were made behind closed doors, with very little leaking out before the final hire was complete.

In the end, Petzing emerged as the choice to lead Detroit’s offense into its next Super Bowl window.