The Detroit Lions have officially found their next offensive coordinator. And while the name might not dominate the headlines like some high-profile candidates, the decision to hire former Arizona Cardinals OC Drew Petzing as the team’s next offensive coordinator is a sneaky good move that perfectly aligns with Dan Campbell’s vision.
After a 2025 season that saw a mid-season play-calling change and the eventual departure of their previous offensive coordinator in John Morton, the Lions entered the offseason with a massive hole at the top of their offensive staff. While the team was briefly linked to former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, Campbell and the Lions front office ultimately chose Petzing.
Petzing, 38, represents a new wave of NFL coaching talent. An Ivy League graduate who worked his way up the ranks with the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns, he spent years specializing in quarterbacks and tight ends before taking over the Cardinals’ offense. Despite the Cardinals facing three losing seasons during his tenure, a deeper dive into the data reveals why Petzing was at the top of Detroit’s list.
The primary motivation for the hire appears to be Petzing’s elite success in the running game, even when working with limited resources. In Arizona, Petzing orchestrated a rushing attack that consistently ranked in the top five of the league in several key metrics. Over three seasons, the Cardinals averaged 4.7 yards per rush (tied for 4th) and boasted an explosive run rate that also tied for 4th in the NFL.
Perhaps most impressively, Petzing achieved these numbers with a supporting cast that was very average compared to Detroit’s star-studded roster. For example, in 2023, the Cardinals ranked 1st in the NFL in rushing despite having the 26th-ranked run-blocking offensive line (courtesy of Pro Football Focus). It’s clear that Petzing managed to accomplish a lot of production with very little talent relatively. It’s easy to see how Dan Campbell could imagine what Petzing could do with the thoroughbreds that Detroit has.
Beyond the running game, the hire signals a major shift in Detroit’s offensive identity toward “13 personnel”, packages featuring one running back and three tight ends. This strategy, currently being utilized by NFC powerhouses like the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks, is considered the latest evolution in NFL play-calling.
Petzing’s background as a tight ends coach and his success with All-Pro Trey McBride in Arizona suggest he is uniquely qualified to lead this evolution in Detroit. The Lions currently possess multiple talented tight ends, and the Campbell clearly believes Petzing’s ability to run the football and utilize play-action out of heavy personnel sets will keep them ahead of defensive adjustments in 2026.
While the hire might not have won the press conference the way a Mike McDaniel signing would have, it reflects a disciplined, strategic choice by Dan Campbell. By emulating the heavy-personnel schemes seen in this year’s NFC Championship game participants, the Lions are signaling that their focus is entirely on winning a Super Bowl. For a franchise that has spent decades searching for its first title, Petzing’s arrival may not be the loudest move of the offseason, but it might just be the smartest.
Disclaimer: The content of this article was originally published as a YouTube video on the Saturday Morning Inspection YouTube channel. With AI assistance, the publisher of the video created this article based on the content of that video.
