Lions to hire Drew Petzing as new offensive coordinator

Richard Silva, The Detroit News on Jan 19, 2026

Published in Football

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DETROIT — The Detroit Lions have found their replacement for John Morton.

Drew Petzing and the Lions are finalizing a deal to make him the team's next offensive coordinator, a source confirmed to The Detroit News Monday. Petzing, 38, has been the OC with the Arizona Cardinals for the last three seasons. Before that, he coached quarterbacks (2022) and tight ends (2020-21) with the Cleveland Browns and held various roles, including wide receivers coach, with the Minnesota Vikings from 2014-19.

Petzing's coaching career began at Middlebury, a Division III program in Vermont. He attended and played defensive back at the school for two seasons before becoming a volunteer student assistant. He went on to make stops at Harvard (2009), Boston College (2010-11) and Yale (2012) before he had his first opportunity in the NFL as a football operations intern with the Browns in 2013.

The Cardinals, who went 2-3 with Kyler Murray at quarterback and 1-11 with Jacoby Brissett, ranked 23rd in points (20.9) and 19th (325.8) in total yards this season. They finished 23rd in Expected Points Added (EPA) per play, at -0.06, and had a rushing success rate (42.1%) that was 15th. Murray (five games played), running back James Conner (three) and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (12) each suffered season-ending injuries in 2025.

An undeniable strength in Arizona’s offense this season was the production from tight end Trey McBride, who tallied 1,239 yards and 11 touchdowns on 126 catches. Only six players in the NFL — Jaxon Smith-Njigba (1,793), Puka Nacua (1,715), George Pickens(1,429), Ja’Marr Chase (1,412) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (1,401) — had more receiving yards.

When Murray was healthy and started every game in 2024, the Cardinals ranked 12th in points (23.5) and 11th in total yards (358.2). They finished eighth in EPA per play, at +0.03, and had a rushing success rate (44.1%) that was ninth. The Cardinals went 8-9 that season and missed out on the postseason by two games.

Asked on Jan. 8 what the team is looking for in a new OC, Lions general manager Brad Holmes mentioned leadership, an attention to detail and the ability to command a room. "You just have to be able to know that they're somebody that’s gonna be able to dot every 'i,' cross every 't,' and make sure that nothing is compromised from a detail standpoint, from a standard standpoint, from the start of the game-planning period all the way to the end of the week. We’re just looking for that type of person," Holmes said.

"I do think a lot of it is just — you gotta get in front of them, hear them out, spend some time with them and kind of hear their ideas, hear their philosophy, do a lot of vetting — as much vetting as you can — and just make the decision," Holmes added. "I think when you go through the process of getting in front of them, when you know, you know."

Petzing is Detroit's fourth offensive coordinator under coach Dan Campbell. The position was previously held by Morton (2025), Ben Johnson (2022-24) and Anthony Lynn (2021). Morton, who had his play-calling duties taken away at midseason, was fired earlier this month.

Campbell and Petzing have not worked together previously. It's not completely clear whether Petzing will call plays, but ESPN indicated the expectation is Campbell would hand those responsibilities to whoever he hired.

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