The Detroit Lions are closing in on a deal to bring Drew Petzing aboard as their new offensive coordinator - a move that signals a fresh chapter for an offense already trending upward under head coach Dan Campbell.
Petzing has spent the past three seasons calling plays for the Arizona Cardinals, where the results were a bit of a mixed bag. His offenses ranked 24th, 12th, and 23rd in points scored from 2023 to 2025. Not exactly fireworks across the board, but the numbers don’t tell the full story - especially when you look at what he built in the run game during his first two years in Arizona.
In 2023, the Cardinals finished fourth in rushing yards, and in 2024, they came in seventh. That’s impressive enough, but it gets even better when you dig into the efficiency metrics.
Arizona ranked second in the league in yards per carry both seasons, averaging 5.0 in 2023 and 5.3 in 2024. That kind of consistency on the ground doesn’t happen by accident - it speaks to a well-designed run scheme and a commitment to physical football.
But 2025 was a different story. Injuries and a pass-heavy approach derailed the ground attack.
The Cardinals led the league in passing attempts and finished dead last in rushing attempts - a clear sign of a shift in offensive philosophy, whether by necessity or design. Unsurprisingly, that led to a steep drop to 31st in rushing yards.
Still, even with the volume down, the team managed to finish 16th in yards per carry, which suggests the run game itself wasn’t broken - it just wasn’t used.
Before his time in Arizona, Petzing climbed the NFL coaching ladder the hard way. He spent two seasons with the Cleveland Browns as their tight ends coach before being promoted to quarterbacks coach - a role that gave him valuable experience developing signal-callers.
Prior to that, he logged six years with the Minnesota Vikings under Mike Zimmer, working across multiple offensive positions, including wide receivers coach, assistant quarterbacks coach, and offensive assistant. It’s a résumé that shows versatility, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the offensive side of the ball.
While Petzing doesn’t have a direct link to Dan Campbell, there’s an interesting connection to former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. That tie could provide some continuity in terms of offensive philosophy, even as Detroit looks to evolve and build on what Johnson helped establish.
Bottom line: the Lions are getting a coach who’s been in the trenches - someone who’s seen offenses from every angle and has called plays at the highest level. His run-game success in Arizona, especially in 2023 and 2024, should be of particular interest to a Lions team that’s built its identity around physicality and balance. If Petzing can bring that same energy to Detroit while tailoring the scheme to fit their personnel, this could be a strong fit.
It’s not a flashy hire, but it’s a smart one - the kind of move that could quietly pay big dividends as the Lions continue their push to stay among the NFC’s elite.