Another Vikings Coach from Zimmer Era Lands a Top Job in Arizona
Dustin Baker
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The Arizona Cardinals hired Jonathan Gannon from the Philadelphia Eagles last week to lead the post-Kliff Kingbury era, and Gannon, a former Vikings coach, is bringing another ex-Vikings personality with him.
That’s Drew Petzing, who worked in Minnesota from 2014 to 2019, and he’ll lead the Cardinals offense in 2023.
NFL Network‘s Tom Pelissero tweeted Saturday, “Petzing, 35, was most recently the Browns QBs coach and previously was in Minnesota, where he worked with Jonathan Gannon. A rising young assistant.”
Another Vikings Coach from Zimmer Era Lands a Top Job in Arizona
With the Vikings, Petzing began his career as an offensive assistant (2014-2015), became an assistant wide receivers coach (2016-2017), an assistant quarterback coach (2018), and then finally the wide receivers coach in 2019. Thereafter, he journeyed to the Cleveland Browns as a tight ends coach and quarterbacks before taking the fancy job in Arizona over the weekend.
Petzing joins Gannon in the desert, whose ties to the Vikings are relatively recent, too, and date back to the Mike Zimmer era. Gannon was the assistant defensive backs coach from 2014 to 2017 behind Jerry Gray and is credited with polishing players like Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander.
After that, Gannon took on back-to-back-back promotions, first with the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2020 as defensive backs coach. Then, from 2021 until Super Bowl LVII, Gannon led the Eagles defense to consecutive playoff berths, culminating in last weekend’s Super Bowl loss. Now, he’s the man in charge of the Cardinals.
It’s a big ‘ol Vikings party in Glendale.
Petzing will be asked to rebuild a Cardinals offense that ranked 28th in the NFL in 2022 per EPA/Play. Arizona suffered an utterly terrible season with a 4-13 record in 2022, which was particularly embarrassing because the franchise just unloaded megabucks to its general manager, head coach, and quarterback last year.
Gannon and Petzing will also be tasked with navigating the ship potentially without Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray for a while in 2023. Murray tore his ACL late in the 2022 season and may not be ready for Week 1 in September.
Karl Rasmussen from Clutch Points reported in January, “The Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback issues may continue on into the 2023 season. Kliff Kingsbury revealed Wednesday that the Cardinals aren’t expecting to have Kyler Murray back at the start of next season after the star QB underwent reconstructive surgery on his ACL.”
The Cardinals also employ former Vikings David Blough (QB), Nate Hairston (CB), and Blake Lynch (LB), who are all under contract in 2023.
Petzing will turn 36 next month.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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