The Detroit Lions are heading into a pivotal offseason with a new face calling the plays: Drew Petzing. The former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator is stepping into a high-expectation role in Detroit, and while the fanbase may be divided on the hire, GM Brad Holmes is standing firmly behind the decision.
After parting ways with John Morton following just one season, many Lions fans had their sights set on a bigger name-former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. But when McDaniel took the open offensive coordinator job with the Chargers, Detroit pivoted to Petzing, a coach who might not carry the same headline appeal but comes with a reputation for adaptability and sharp football intellect.
Why Petzing? Holmes Breaks It Down
Brad Holmes didn’t mince words when explaining the hire. For him, it wasn’t about plugging a system into Detroit’s offense-it was about finding a coach who could mold his approach around the talent already in the building.
“A lot of it is what I like about him is that it’s not a system,” Holmes said. “It’s what do you have, what’s the personnel that you have?
Like, what can we do? And so that’s what I think he showed us in that process-that he can maximize personnel that’s available.
So that’s real exciting.”
That flexibility is key. Petzing isn’t coming in with a rigid playbook or a one-size-fits-all scheme. Instead, he’s known for tailoring his approach to the players on the field-a quality that stood out during Holmes’ evaluation process.
“Petzing is just very sharp, very bright, just really liked his attention to detail,” Holmes added. “He was very well recommended.
All the vetting that we did-all the sources couldn’t speak highly enough about him. And just really liked what his philosophy was behind offensive football and how he utilized personnel.
He just checked all the boxes, man. So we were excited about him.”
A New Chapter, With Familiar Weapons
Petzing walks into a much more favorable situation in Detroit than what he dealt with in Arizona. The Cardinals struggled to find consistency during his three-year run as OC, never making the playoffs.
But that lack of team success doesn’t tell the full story of Petzing’s coaching acumen. Around the league, he earned respect for his preparation, football IQ, and ability to get the most out of limited rosters.
Now, he’s got a whole lot more to work with.
The Lions offense is still stacked with talent, headlined by the electric Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield, the potential return of David Montgomery, and a receiving corps featuring Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Isaac TeSlaa. That’s a group with speed, versatility, and playmaking ability-exactly the kind of personnel Petzing has shown he can build around.
And based on Holmes’ comments, it doesn’t sound like a major offensive overhaul is coming. The front office appears content with the current roster, which means Petzing’s job is to elevate what’s already in place rather than engineer a rebuild.
Can Petzing Reignite the Lions’ Offensive Spark?
The bar is high. Under Ben Johnson, Detroit’s offense became one of the most dynamic units in the league, powering back-to-back playoff runs and NFC North titles. But last season, the offense didn’t quite have the same punch, and that drop-off was felt across the fanbase.
That’s where Petzing comes in. His mission is clear: get the Lions back to playing fast, creative, and efficient football. Fans may still be unsure-especially given Arizona’s lack of team success during his tenure-but Holmes and the Lions brass believe they’ve found the right guy to lead this group forward.
It’s a gamble, sure. But it’s also a calculated one. Petzing brings a fresh voice, a flexible mind, and a deep understanding of how to maximize the pieces around him.
Now, it’s time to see if that vision translates to the field.