The reaction from the Detroit Lions fan base over the hiring of Drew Petzing as the team’s next offensive coordinator was not super positive. Some fans on social media expressed how much they outright hate the hire.
In his first podcast appearance since the Petzing hire, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown argued the team’s fan base needs to have a little more faith.
“I see crazy Lions fans talking crazy,” said St. Brown on the St. Brown Bros. Podcast, via SI on Lions’ John Maakaron. “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, like for real? You think they don’t know what they’re doing? They don’t do their research?
“Like most of you guys don’t know really much about anything, about any ball, and you’re tweeting about a coach that was hired that you guys don’t like because of XYZ.”
Petzing will arrive in Detroit with three years of offensive coordinator experience. In 2025, his Arizona Cardinals offense finished 19th in yards and 23rd in points scored.
Amon-Ra St. Brown Defends Lions hiring Drew Petzing
Petzing is a relative unknown among NFL fans. Furthermore, as Cardinals offensive coordinator, he didn’t experience a lot of success.
That’s part of the angst in the Lions fan base. Detroit also hired Petzing with top offensive coordinator candidates, such as Mike McDaniel, still on the market.
Despite those facts, St. Brown argued it’s too early to already be judging the Lions for the hire.
“It’s just funny to me to see. Don’t get me wrong, I love all Lions fans, but they are so quick to make judgments about who we hired. Just relax, calm down,” St. Brown added, via Maakaron. “Let the whole thing play out. Like you guys, just let it play out. Just relax. That’s all I gotta say. Relax man, relax.”
Petzing didn’t necessarily have a lot to work with on the Cardinals offense. For a large portion of the 2025 campaign, his starting quarterback was journeyman Jacoby Brissett.
The Cardinals fell behind in a lot of games during 2025. As a result, Petzing’s offense led the league in total passes last season. The Cardinals were also last in rushing attempts.
Petzing’s play-calling should be a lot more balanced with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in his backfield next season.
In 2024 with Kyler Murray behind center, Arizona’s offense was 11th in yards and 12th in points.
Petzing the Next Ben Johnson?
It’s way too early to call Petzing the next Ben Johnson. But the Lions may be trying to find a reincarnation of their departed OC in Petzing.
The two began their coaching careers together as graduate assistants at Boston College. They spent the 2010 and 2011 campaigns on the same staff.
Johnson jumped to the NFL in 2012 and began coaching under Dan Campbell. Petzing joined the league as an intern in 2013. Petzing served as an assistant for the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings for 10 years before his first OC opportunity with the Cardinals in 2023.
The Lions hired Petzing to replace John Morton, who the team fired following the 2025 regular season. Morton served as the team’s offensive coordinator for one year.
St. Brown posted 117 receptions, 1,401 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in Morton’s offense during 2025.
Amon-Ra St. Brown Reacts to Lions Hiring Drew Petzing as Offensive Coordinator