The Detroit Lions are making a pivotal move this offseason, zeroing in on Drew Petzing as their next offensive coordinator. The hire isn’t official yet, but it’s already stirring up a wave of reaction across the fanbase - and not all of it’s positive.
After reports surfaced that Petzing was Detroit’s top target, some Lions fans didn’t exactly hold back. Social media lit up with skepticism and frustration, questioning the decision and what it might mean for the team’s offensive future.
But inside the locker room, the reaction has been very different - and star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown wasted no time stepping up to defend his new OC.
On a recent episode of the St. Brown Brothers podcast, Amon-Ra addressed the backlash head-on. And let’s just say, he didn’t sugarcoat it.
“I see crazy Lions fans talking crazy,” he said. “Like, ‘Oh, why would we do this?’
Like, bro, do you guys have no trust in Dan, in the Lions? You think they would just hire a random dude?”
That’s the heart of St. Brown’s message - trust the process.
Trust Dan Campbell. Trust the front office.
After all, this is a team that’s been building something real over the past few seasons, and they’ve earned a little benefit of the doubt. St.
Brown made it clear he believes the coaching staff did their homework before settling on Petzing, and he pushed back on the idea that fans - many of whom, he noted, “don’t know much about ball” - should rush to judgment.
At the same time, he wasn’t trying to alienate the fanbase. St. Brown emphasized that he loves Lions fans - he just wants them to give the new guy a fair shake before writing him off.
And that’s a reasonable ask. Because while Petzing’s resume might not jump off the page at first glance, there’s more to the story than a few scoring averages.
Let’s take a closer look.
Petzing has been grinding in the NFL since 2013, when he got his start with the Cleveland Browns as a football operations intern. From there, he moved to the Minnesota Vikings, where he spent six years climbing the ranks on the offensive staff, holding roles that ranged from assistant wide receivers coach to quarterbacks coach. He returned to Cleveland in a more prominent role before landing in Arizona, where he served as the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator for the past three seasons.
Now, yes - the Cardinals’ offensive numbers under Petzing won’t blow anyone away. Arizona averaged 19.4 points per game in 2023, bumped that up to 23.5 in 2024, and came back down to 20.9 in 2025.
That’s not elite production, and it’s part of why some fans are hesitant. But context matters.
Arizona’s offense has been in flux in recent years - from quarterback injuries to offensive line issues to a young, evolving roster. Petzing wasn’t working with a fully loaded deck. And that’s exactly why his move to Detroit could be a different story entirely.
In Detroit, Petzing inherits a far more stable and talented offensive unit. He’ll be working with a top-tier offensive line, a dynamic rushing attack, and a quarterback in Jared Goff who’s found his rhythm in Ben Johnson’s system.
Most importantly, he gets to scheme for weapons like St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta - guys who can turn good play designs into game-breaking plays.
And that’s the real test. For all the talk, all the tweets, and all the opinions, what matters most is what happens on Sundays.
If Petzing can build on the foundation Ben Johnson laid and keep this offense humming, the early doubts will fade fast. If he can unlock even more from this group - well, then Detroit might just take another step toward sustained NFC contender status.
So yes, the hire raised some eyebrows. But Petzing’s got the experience, the opportunity, and now - thanks to Amon-Ra - a vocal supporter in the locker room. The rest is up to him.