Lions Hire Former Vikings Coach to Run Offense
When the Detroit Lions trot onto the field next September, a man named Drew Petzing will run the offense. Twelve years ago, Petzing’s career got off the ground with the Minnesota Vikings, then led by head coach Mike Zimmer.
Petzing’s rise from Minnesota assistant roles to an NFL play-caller happened pretty fast, and Detroit is betting the background will translate into prosperity.
Indeed, Petzing has climbed from Vikings assistant wide receivers coach to Lions offensive coordinator in just over a decade.
Drew Petzing Takes Over the Lions Offense
The Lions’ offense will be run by a new man in 2026.
Petzing to Lions as OC
Detroit will turn to Petzing after the failed, one-year John Morton experiment.
ESPN’s Eric Woodyard wrote Monday, “The Detroit Lions are finalizing a deal to hire former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing as their next offensive coordinator, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Petzing, 38, will replace John Morton, who was fired after one season in the role, when the Lions finished 9-8 and failed to reach the postseason for the first time since 2022.”
“Petzing had been the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator the past three seasons under Jonathan Gannon, who was fired by the team after the season. This should be a playcalling role in Detroit for Petzing as the organization was in search of an experienced candidate during a thorough coaching search.”
Detroit ranked ninth in the NFL this season per EPA/Play. Morton probably wonders why he was fired.
Immediate Employment after ARI Termination
Petzing’s employment drought didn’t last long. About two weeks ago, the Cardinals fired head coach Jonathan Gannon — also a former Vikings coach — thrusting most of Gannon’s staff onto the open market. Meanwhile, the Lions sought a replacement for the aforementioned Morton as offensive coordinator, a search that included Mike McDaniel, Mike Kafka, and Arthur Smith, among others.
Dan Campbell settled on Petzing as his guy.
NFL.com‘s Kevin Patra on the hire: “The Lions hope the 38-year-old play-caller can seamlessly take over an explosive offense that got off track in 2025. Detroit boasts a trove of weapons around Jared Goff, with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams at receiver, dynamic running back Jahmyr Gibbs out of the backfield and, if healthy, Sam LaPorta at tight end. The Lions, however, will enter the offseason with questions along the offensive line, which dealt with injuries and inconsistencies this season.”
“After Ben Johnson, who coached with Petzing at Boston College before both made the leap to the pros, left for Chicago, the Lions brought in John Morton as their offensive coordinator. The experiment with Morton, who had only called plays for a year, didn’t last the campaign. Campbell took over play-calling after eight games, and the Lions fired Morton after a 9-8 season.”
Most Lions fans on social media considered the hire rather underwhelming. That group preferred someone splashier, like Mike McDaniel.
Petzing in Minnesota
Petzing entered the Vikings’ orbit as an offensive assistant from 2014 to 2015, moved into an assistant wide receivers role through 2017, spent a season working with quarterbacks in 2018, and closed his Minnesota tenure as wide receivers coach in 2019.
From there, Petzing pivoted to Cleveland, handling tight ends and quarterbacks before landing the Arizona job over the weekend. He then reunited with Gannon in Arizona, whose own Vikings ties stretch back to the Zimmer era.
Gannon worked as Minnesota’s assistant defensive backs coach from 2014 to 2017 under Jerry Gray, earning a reputation for developing young talent, including Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander. His rise accelerated quickly after that, with stops in Indianapolis and Philadelphia, where he helped the Eagles achieve consecutive playoff runs and a Super Bowl appearance.
Now, Petzing will get Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta to play around with on Sundays.
Career Resume
Petzing started his coaching journey as a young man in the Ivy League. Here’s his full resume 17 years later:
Harvard (2009)
Volunteer student assistant
Boston College (2010–2011)
Graduate assistant
Yale (2012)
Outside linebackers coach
Cleveland Browns (2013)
Football operations intern
Minnesota Vikings (2014–2015)
Offensive assistant
Minnesota Vikings (2016–2017)
Assistant wide receivers coach
Minnesota Vikings (2018)
Assistant quarterbacks coach
Minnesota Vikings (2019)
Wide receivers coach
Cleveland Browns (2020–2021)
Tight ends coach
Cleveland Browns (2022)
Quarterbacks coach
Arizona Cardinals (2023–2025)
Offensive coordinator
Detroit Lions (2026–present)
Offensive coordinator
It’s worth noting that Petzing is well-positioned to secure head coaching interviews next year at this time if his offense takes off in Detroit. He’ll have the tools necessary to make that happen.
Petzing will turn 38 in March.
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