DETROIT — The Detroit Lions finally have their new offensive coordinator, and the fanbase is… spiraling. But All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown isn’t hearing it. Following the breaking news that former Cardinals OC Drew Petzing is taking the reins of the Lions’ offense, St. Brown took to his podcast to issue a blunt reality check to the Detroit faithful: Relax.
After a disappointing 9-8 finish in the 2025 season—and a one-and-done year for previous coordinator John Morton—Lions fans were desperate for a splash hire. They wanted a savior to wash away the bitterness of watching Ben Johnson lead the rival Chicago Bears to an NFC North title. Instead, they got Petzing, whose Cardinals offense ranked 24th in EPA per play last season.
The reaction was instant and loud. “Underwhelming” was the polite word. “Disaster” was the common one. But on the latest episode of the St. Brown Podcast, Amon-Ra didn’t hold back against the armchair GMs.
Locker Room Talk: “Not Just A Random Dude”
“I see crazy Lions fans talking crazy. Like, ‘Oh, why do we do this?’ Like bro, do you guys have no trust in Dan? Or in the Lions? Like, did they just hire a random dude, for real? You think they don’t know what they’re doing? They don’t do their research?” — Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions WR
St. Brown revealed that the hire wasn’t a blind dart throw by Dan Campbell. In fact, Campbell and quarterback Jared Goff were in communication before the news leaked. “Yesterday morning I texted Jared Goff,” St. Brown shared. “He said the team had interest in Petzing.”
The skepticism isn’t entirely baseless. Petzing’s 2025 campaign in Arizona was marred by injuries and inconsistency, with the team struggling to score 30 points in a single game. However, the tape tells a deeper story. In 2024, with a healthy Kyler Murray, Petzing engineered a top-10 rushing attack and the league’s 12th-highest scoring offense.
That “ground-and-pound” philosophy meshes perfectly with Detroit’s identity. Campbell wants to bite kneecaps, not play 7-on-7 flag football. Petzing’s ability to scheme open run lanes—even with a backup QB in Arizona—likely sold the Lions’ brass.
This is a make-or-break year for Dan Campbell. After “grading himself an F” for the 2025 regression, he needs Petzing to reignite the explosive offense that defined the Ben Johnson era. The pieces are there: Goff, Gibbs, LaPorta, and the Sun God himself.
If Petzing can blend his rushing schemes with Detroit’s elite personnel, the Lions are instant contenders to reclaim the North from Chicago. If the offense stalls again? The noise from the fanbase won’t just be Twitter chatter—it’ll be deafening inside Ford Field.
