DETROIT- The Detroit Lions have finalized a deal to hire Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator. Petzing, previously the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals, replaces John Morton, who was let go after one season.
The Lions finished the last season with a nine-eight record, falling short of a playoff appearance. Dan Campbell, the team’s head coach, had taken over playcalling duties in Week 10.
Petzing, 38, served as the offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals for the past three seasons under head coach Jonathan Gannon, who was also let go following the season. The Lions are looking for Petzing to provide stability and innovation in their offensive strategy as they move forward.
Despite finishing with a respectable average of 28.3 points per game, the Lions struggled to establish a consistent offensive identity throughout the last season. Star players like Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs highlighted the team’s talent, but there were challenges in finding an offensive rhythm beyond big plays.
The Cardinals averaged over 20 points per game in their previous two seasons, despite injury trouble at the quarterback position.
General manager Brad Holmes emphasized that leadership and attention to detail were crucial traits sought in the new offensive coordinator. “There has to be leadership, there has to be detail-oriented, there’s got to be command of the room,” Holmes stated during his end-of-season news conference. He expressed the importance of strong leadership in guiding the team’s offensive strategy.
