The Lions have <a href="https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/2013334229300428885?s=20">found their new offensive coordinator</a>. They’re hiring Drew Petzing for the gig, <a href="https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/2013334229300428885?s=20">according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport</a>. 



Petzing most recently served the same position for the Arizona Cardinals. Despite a rash of injuries, their offense didn’t waver. Now, he’ll have plenty of tools at his disposal as a member of <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/coach/dan-campbell-131786/">Dan Campbell’s</a> staff.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">The Lions are hiring Drew Petzing as their offensive coordinator, sources tell me and <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RapSheet</a>. Petzing, 38, kept Arizona’s offense afloat this past season despite a rash of injuries, including at QB. Now, a huge opportunity with Detroit’s high-octane offense. <a href="https://t.co/DViqn2d5cC">pic.twitter.com/DViqn2d5cC</a>— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/2013334229300428885?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2026</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



With the amount of candidates available and linked to the Lions, Petzing might be a bit of a surprise choice to many for the Lions. Evidently, the 38-year old coach did enough to merit the job according to Campbell. He’s earned the trust of the fanbase to make the decision in Detroit. 



The move comes at a pivotal moment for the Lions. They’re looking to reset after a season that fell well short of expectations. Detroit entered the year as a popular Super Bowl pick following a 2024 campaign that included the NFC’s No. 1 seed and back-to-back NFC North titles, but the Lions failed to reach the playoffs after a Week 17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Day.



Campbell didn’t sugarcoat the disappointment when addressing reporters after the season: “Not good enough. We didn’t get in. We underachieved,” Campbell <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47517197/campbell-grades-freaking-f-lions-underachieved">said</a>. “I’d give myself a freaking F.”



Detroit finished outside the playoff picture despite high preseason expectations, a reality that Campbell admitted was difficult to process: “It’s going to be a hard pill to swallow watching these teams in the playoffs,” Campbell <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47517197/campbell-grades-freaking-f-lions-underachieved">added</a>. “But you’ve got to force yourself to do it because that’s a drive to want to be there.”



Players echoed that sentiment in the aftermath of the season-ending loss. Wide receiver <a href="https://www.on3.com/rivals/amon-ra-st-brown-4368/">Amon-Ra St. Brown</a>, who surpassed 1,400 receiving yards for the second time in his career, said the Lions simply didn’t earn a postseason berth.



“It hurts, but we didn’t do enough,” St. Brown <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47517197/campbell-grades-freaking-f-lions-underachieved">said</a>. “We didn’t make enough plays. Didn’t win enough games. We don’t deserve to be in the playoffs.”



Despite the challenges in Arizona, Petzing was widely praised around the league for keeping the unit competitive and adaptable. Those qualities are what Detroit hopes will translate to a roster that still features one of the NFL’s most talented cores.



Campbell believes the Lions are closer to contention than their record suggests, but acknowledged changes were necessary: “We fell short this year, and we all acknowledge that,” Campbell <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47517197/campbell-grades-freaking-f-lions-underachieved">said</a>. “It’s bitter. But I really don’t believe we’re that far off. There’s a couple of things we can do, and I want to make sure we go after it.”



The hiring of Petzing signals Detroit’s intent to re-ignite an offense that once fueled championship aspirations. With renewed hunger and structural adjustments underway, the Lions are betting that a new voice at offensive coordinator can help propel them back into the NFC playoff picture in 2026.

Petzing

5GOATs

Report: Lions hiring Drew Petzing as new offensive coordinator

team image

Pro News

NFL News

NFL Draft News

NASCAR

NBA News

NBA Draft News

Culture

Sports Betting

About

Football

Basketball

Women's Basketball

Softball

Baseball

Alabama

Arizona State

Arizona

Arkansas

Auburn

Baylor

Boston College

California

Removed

Clemson

Colorado

Duke

Florida

Florida State

Georgia

Georgia Tech

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Iowa State

Kansas

Kansas State

Kentucky

Lettermen Row

Lettermen Lounge

Louisville

Maryland

Miami

Michigan State

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi State

Missouri

NC State

Nebraska

North Carolina

Northwestern

Notre Dame

Ohio State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State

Ole Miss

The Main Board

Oregon

Oregon State

Penn State

Pittsburgh

Purdue

Rutgers

South Carolina

Stanford

Syracuse

Tennessee

Texas A&M

Texas

Texas Tech

UCLA

Utah

Vanderbilt

Virginia

Virginia Tech

Wake Forest

Washington

Washington State

West Virginia

Wisconsin

BamaOnLine

BOL Round Table

Inside Texas

IT Members Only

DawgsHQ

Dawg Walk

Scoop Duck

Recruiting & Sports

AuburnSports

The Corner

WeAreSC

GarryP's Trojan Huddle

The Wolverine

The Fort

The Lions Den

The Wolfpacker

The Wolves’ Den

GatorsOnline

Swamp Talk

Alabama A&M

Alabama State

Albany

Alcorn State

Abilene Christian

Appalachian State

Akron

Army

Austin Peay

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Arkansas-Little Rock

Arkansas State

Air Force

Ball State

American

Wofford

Winthrop

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Wisconsin-Green Bay

Wichita State

Western Carolina

Volleyball

Gymnastics

Men's Lacrosse

Women's Lacrosse

Men's Soccer

Women's Soccer

Women's Track

Men's Golf

Women's Golf

Men's Hockey

Women's Hockey

Men's Swimming

Women's Swimming

Wrestling

Men's Tennis

Women's Tennis

Annual $1

Annual Premium

Annual $1 

Monthly

Annual

Unlimited Access to This and All Articles.

Article (On3 Plus Rivals)

Forum (On3 Plus Rivals)

Intro

Join

College scoop, experts, and community - all in one.

Winback

Next court date set

Sherrone Moore

Stories that will shape 2026

Looking ahead

Miami trending for QB, WR

Transfer Portal Intel

Top CFB players for 2026

Way Too Early Top 100

Enters the transfer portal

Cooper Barkate