When a new offensive coordinator joins a team, it's pretty standard procedure to bring along a few familiar faces-coaches who already know the system, speak the same football language, and can help lay the foundation for success. That’s exactly the situation the Detroit Lions find themselves in now, with Drew Petzing expected to take over the offensive coordinator role.
Detroit already has a strong foundation in place, especially when it comes to their positional coaching staff. But if last year is any indication-when John Morton came on board and brought longtime friend David Shaw with him to be the pass game coordinator-there’s room for fresh voices who can help tailor the offense to a new vision. So, as Petzing gets set to install his version of the offense, don’t be surprised if a few familiar names from his past show up in Allen Park.
Here are four coaching candidates with ties to Petzing who could realistically land in Detroit.
Ben Steele - Cardinals Tight Ends Coach
This one feels like the most obvious fit. Detroit has a vacancy at tight ends coach after Tyler Roehl left to take the offensive coordinator job at Iowa State, and Petzing is no stranger to working closely with Ben Steele. The two have been aligned in Arizona, where Steele served as Petzing’s tight ends coach during his entire run as OC.
Steele, a former NFL tight end himself, brings both playing experience and coaching chops to the table. Under his guidance, Trey McBride blossomed into a legitimate weapon in Arizona’s offense. And given how prominently Petzing leans on 12 and 13 personnel (that’s two or three tight ends on the field at once), having a coach who understands the nuances of that system is critical.
Now imagine what Steele could do with Sam LaPorta, who already looks like one of the league’s rising stars at the position. If Steele is available-and that’s still a bit of a question, depending on how things shake out in Arizona’s coaching search-he’d be a natural fit to help unlock even more from Detroit’s tight end room.
Drew Terrell - Cardinals Pass Game Coordinator
Petzing has earned a lot of praise for his creativity in the run game, but Detroit’s offense also needs to keep its top-tier passing attack humming. That’s where someone like Drew Terrell could come into play.
Terrell has spent the past three seasons as the pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach in Arizona, working closely with a young group of receivers that includes high draft picks like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. While the production didn’t exactly jump off the page, Terrell does have a track record of helping receivers develop-most notably during his time in Washington, where he played a key role in Terry McLaurin’s rise to stardom.
The Lions already have a well-respected receivers coach in Scottie Montgomery, so adding Terrell might seem redundant at first glance. But if Detroit is looking to build long-term continuity within Petzing’s system-or if there’s concern about eventually losing Montgomery to a bigger role elsewhere-Terrell could be a forward-thinking addition. He’s young, he’s got experience with Petzing, and he’s still on the rise.
Connor Senger - Cardinals Pass Game Specialist
If Detroit is looking to invest in a developmental coaching talent, Connor Senger is a name worth watching. He’s early in his NFL journey, but his trajectory has been impressive.
Senger, a former college quarterback, got his NFL start through the Bill Bidwill Fellowship in 2022-a program designed to create more opportunities for minority coaches. Since then, he’s climbed the ladder in Arizona, moving from offensive quality control coach to assistant quarterbacks coach and, most recently, to pass game specialist.
He’s also been part of the coaching staffs at the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl in recent years, which speaks to how he’s viewed within coaching circles. There’s not a ton of public information out there on Senger, but the Lions have shown a willingness to bet on young, ascending coaches. If they want to bring in someone who knows Petzing’s system and is eager to grow, Senger fits the mold.
Andrew Janocko - Seahawks Quarterbacks Coach
This one’s a bit more speculative, but it’s worth keeping an eye on. Andrew Janocko and Drew Petzing go way back to their days in Minnesota, where they worked together on the Vikings’ staff for five years. That kind of familiarity can go a long way when building out a new offensive staff.
Janocko’s coaching résumé is diverse-he’s worked with offensive lines, wide receivers, and quarterbacks. After stints as QB coach with the Bears and Saints, he landed in Seattle in 2025, where Sam Darnold has enjoyed a bit of a career resurgence. That’s no small feat, and it speaks to Janocko’s ability to connect with veteran quarterbacks and help elevate their play.
He’s also part of the Klint Kubiak coaching tree, which aligns nicely with Petzing’s offensive roots. That shared philosophy could make Janocko an ideal candidate for a pass game coordinator-type role in Detroit, should he be available and interested. While his track record with younger quarterbacks like Justin Fields and Spencer Rattler has been mixed, he’s shown he can help stabilize and support more experienced signal-callers-something that could be valuable in Detroit’s current setup.
As the Lions move into this next phase of their offensive evolution, Drew Petzing will have some important decisions to make about who he surrounds himself with. Whether it’s a trusted tight ends coach like Ben Steele, a rising pass game mind like Drew Terrell, a developmental prospect like Connor Senger, or a versatile veteran like Andrew Janocko, Detroit has options.
And while the core of this team remains strong, the right coaching additions could be the difference between maintaining success and taking that next step toward becoming a perennial contender.