Dan Campbell might be shelving the glasses-for now.
You remember them. The signature specs he broke out when it was time to take over play-calling duties, a visual cue that things were getting serious in Detroit. But with the Lions bringing in Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator, it looks like Campbell’s headset might be taking a backseat on game days.
Naturally, the first question buzzing around Lions fans after the hire: Is Campbell still calling plays? It's been a hot topic this offseason, especially after Campbell told reporters he hadn’t yet decided whether he’d continue in that role for 2026.
Now, it looks like we’ve got some clarity.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the expectation during the Lions’ OC interviews was that the new hire would take over play-calling duties. That means Petzing is walking into Detroit with the keys to the offense-at least to start.
That’s a significant development. It suggests Campbell was open to stepping back from the play sheet, which wasn’t always a given.
After all, we saw him take over midseason this past year when things weren’t clicking under John Morton. So it’s clear: if Campbell feels the offense is slipping, he won’t hesitate to grab the wheel again.
But if play-calling wasn’t a sticking point in the hiring process, it raises another question: why Petzing?
Detroit had already spoken to several intriguing candidates-Mike McDaniel, Mike Kafka, Zac Robinson among them. All of them have strong reputations and, in some cases, play-calling experience. If Campbell wasn’t insisting on keeping the headset, why didn’t one of those names land the job?
We don’t have the full picture. It’s possible those candidates had other offers on the table, or simply weren’t the right fit for what Detroit’s trying to build.
But the Petzing hire, while surprising to some, does come with a clear message: the Lions are handing him real responsibility. He’s not just here to design plays-he’s here to call them.
That said, Campbell’s presence looms large. He’s proven he’ll step in if the offense isn’t meeting expectations, and that precedent is important.
Petzing will have autonomy, but it’s not unconditional. The leash might be longer than Morton’s, but it’s still there.
Ultimately, this move signals that Detroit is trying to evolve without losing its identity. Campbell’s culture has taken root, and now he’s trusting someone else to run the offense within that framework. Petzing’s challenge will be to keep the offense humming while earning Campbell’s continued confidence.
And if things go sideways? Well, don’t be surprised if those glasses make a comeback.