The Detroit Lions haven’t officially announced Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator just yet, but the locker room buzz is already building-and it’s coming straight from one of the team's biggest voices.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, fresh off another All-Pro season, shared his early thoughts on the reported hire during his weekly podcast with his brother. And while the ink isn’t dry, the vibe from inside the Lions' core is already leaning optimistic.
St. Brown admitted he was getting a little impatient waiting for the news to drop.
So, like any savvy player who wants to stay in the loop, he went straight to the source: quarterback Jared Goff. Goff, who’s been at the center of Detroit’s offensive resurgence, gave St.
Brown the early word on Petzing.
“He said he was good. He’s smart,” St.
Brown recalled. “Although they didn’t have the best offense, he does a lot of good stuff.”
That’s not exactly a glowing scouting report on the surface, but it’s the kind of measured endorsement that speaks to potential more than past production. Petzing, who comes from a Cleveland offense that struggled statistically, still earned praise for the way he schemed and adapted under tough circumstances.
St. Brown, never one to just take someone’s word for it, did his own digging-and found a surprising connection.
“Come to find out he was actually at Boston College with Ben Johnson, which is crazy,” St. Brown said.
“And he was a groomsman at Ben Johnson’s wedding. So, that’s actually really ironic.”
That shared history with Johnson, the architect of Detroit’s high-octane offense over the past two seasons, adds an intriguing layer. It suggests a potential for continuity, even as the team transitions to a new play-caller.
Soon after that revelation, St. Brown got a text from head coach Dan Campbell confirming what he’d suspected.
“I just want to let you know we’re hiring Drew Petzing as our OC. He’s going to be great for us,” St. Brown said, recounting the message.
Then came the call from Petzing himself. It wasn’t a deep dive into Xs and Os just yet-more of a quick intro, a handshake over the phone.
“Basically, he just wanted to say what’s up to me. He told me he was excited, I told him, ‘I’m excited, too.
Let’s get to work,’” St. Brown said.
“It was just catching up, small talk. That was it.
He just wanted to check and introduce himself. So, I appreciate him for that.”
That early communication matters. Relationships between coordinators and star players don’t form overnight, but a quick, genuine reach-out is a good first step.
St. Brown also made it clear: he’s all in on the move.
“I trust Dan. I trust all of the decision-makers for the Lions,” he said. “I think they do a great job, so I’m excited for him.”
But while the Lions’ locker room seems to be embracing the hire, not everyone in the fanbase is on board. Social media reactions have been mixed at best, with some fans questioning the move given Petzing’s track record in Cleveland.
St. Brown didn’t hold back in addressing that criticism.
“I see crazy Lions fans talking crazy like, ‘Oh why would we do this?’ Bro, do you guys have no trust in Dan and the Lions?”
he said. “Do you think they would just hire a random dude?
Be for real.”
He wasn’t done.
“You think they don’t know what they’re doing? They don’t do the research?
They don’t do interviews?” he added.
“Most of you guys don’t really know much about any ball, and you’re tweeting about a coach that was hired that you guys don’t like because of-X, Y, Z. It’s just funny for me to see.”
That’s not a shot at the fans-it’s more of a reminder. This is a front office and coaching staff that’s earned a little trust.
They’ve turned the Lions from perennial punchline into legitimate contenders. So when they make a move, especially one as important as offensive coordinator, there’s usually a plan behind it.
“I love all Lions fans,” St. Brown said.
“But they are so quick to make judgments about who we hire, what we did. Bro, just relax, calm down, let the whole thing play out.”
And that’s really the message here. Patience.
Detroit’s offensive identity has been one of the league’s most exciting stories over the past two seasons. Losing Ben Johnson is a big deal-there’s no sugarcoating that. But if Petzing can build on the foundation Johnson laid, and if the locker room continues to buy in, the Lions have every reason to believe their offensive engine will keep humming.
For now, the players are ready to work. And that’s a good place to start.