The Detroit Lions have found their new offensive coordinator - and it looks like he’ll be the one holding the play sheet in 2026.
Drew Petzing, who most recently called plays for the Arizona Cardinals, is headed to Detroit to take over a high-powered offense that’s become one of the league’s most exciting units under head coach Dan Campbell. And according to reports, Campbell is expected to hand over play-calling duties to Petzing, marking a significant shift in how the Lions will operate on game days.
Campbell had taken the reins himself last season after moving on from former OC John Morton mid-year. But with Petzing now in the fold, the plan appears to be a full transition - giving the new coordinator the keys to a Lions offense that’s already built to contend.
So, what are the Lions getting in Petzing?
Well, for starters, he’s no stranger to making the most of what he has. During his time in Arizona, Petzing helped engineer a top-10 rushing attack in back-to-back seasons (No. 4 in 2023, No. 7 in 2024), and in 2025, he managed to coax a top-10 passing offense out of a group led by Jacoby Brissett - who started 12 games that year.
That’s no small feat. Brissett’s been a journeyman for most of his career, but under Petzing’s guidance, he looked more comfortable and productive than he has in just about any other system.
That ability to elevate a quarterback - especially one who wasn’t expected to carry an offense - is exactly the kind of trait that makes this hire intriguing for Detroit. The Lions already have a strong foundation: a dynamic run game, a physical offensive line, and a quarterback who’s shown he can thrive when the pieces around him are clicking. Now, they’re bringing in a coordinator with a track record of maximizing talent and keeping defenses off balance.
But let’s be clear: Petzing’s walking into a pressure cooker.
This isn’t a rebuild. This is a team with legitimate playoff aspirations and one of the most efficient offenses in the league.
Expectations are sky-high, and any dip in production - especially in year one - is going to get noticed. Lions fans have seen what this unit can do when it’s firing on all cylinders, and they won’t be patient if it starts to sputter.
That said, Petzing isn’t coming in to reinvent the wheel. He’s stepping into a system that already has an identity - physical, aggressive, and built to wear teams down. His job will be to add wrinkles, keep the offense evolving, and make sure the Lions stay one step ahead of opposing defenses.
If he can do that, Detroit might have just made one of the most important hires of their offseason.