when detroit lions employment Drew Petching As their new offensive coordinator, they’re looking for more than just a play-caller.
They’re looking for someone who can see the game the way the quarterback does, the way the defense looks and, most importantly, the way elite playmakers want in a coordinator.
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Petching’s calling card in the league is simple but dangerous: Find where defenses are weak and ruthlessly force them to defend those weaknesses. with players like Amon-La St. Brown and Sam LaPorta This philosophy is already thriving in Detroit, and it could push the Lions offense to another level in 2026.
Drew Petzing Matchup Philosophy
A coordinator who sees holes that others miss
One thing that stands out when former players talk about Pechin is how well he understands the defensive structure. He not only teaches concepts, but why defenses behave the way they do.
Kirk Cousins, who worked with Petzing in Minnesota, once described how Petching reframed reports that Cousins hated to see.
“I had a conversation once about coverage that I didn’t like facing, and I always said it was really, really tough,” Cousins said, via the Detroit Free Press . “He said, ‘Kirk, this may be hard, but it’s loose.'”
This quote has survived because it perfectly embodies Petzing’s approach. No coverage is airtight. Every defense leaves space somewhere. The offense’s job is to find the ball before it’s broken and punish it after it’s broken.
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Football is always the destination
Pechin’s rise through the coaching ranks has been neither quick nor glorious, which is part of what shapes his perspective. in a Exclusive interview with the Detroit Free PressPeiqing explains how close he came to a completely different career path.
That clarity shows in the way he coaches. Petzing doesn’t force ideas. He is people-centered. Former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson believes this approach will translate seamlessly in Detroit.
“I think what Drew does is give his best players a chance to show what they do,” Johnson said.
This philosophy meshes perfectly with Detroit’s offensive identity.
Why Amon-Ra St. Brown is such a good fit for this system
Amon-La St. Brown has won with intelligence, influence and resilience. What Petching brings to the table is a plan to ensure those traits are constantly under pressure targeting the defense’s weakest link.
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St. Brown’s ability to line up anywhere, read coverages on the fly and adjust routes based on impact makes him an ideal core for coordinators who value matchup control. Rather than simply “feeding” his targets, Petching’s offense is designed to force defenders into making poor choices, whether that means isolating a nickel, dragging linebackers into space, or manipulating safeties through formation and movement.
This is how quantity turns into efficiency and efficiency turns into advantage.
Sam Laporta could become the ultimate mismatch
If there is one player who will benefit most from the arrival of Petzin, it might be Sam Laporta.
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Petching has a long history of working with tight ends and quarterbacks, and his offense in Arizona relied heavily on creating favorable tight end looks. Cardinals tight end Trey McBride has excelled under Pechin, and he’s made no secret of his excitement about what this means for Detroit.
“Obviously, we’ve had a lot of success under his leadership,” McBride said. “So I think he’s a great coordinator and I’m excited to see what he can do with all the weapons Detroit has.”
Laporta’s combination of size, speed and awareness already makes him difficult to defend. In a system that prioritizes finding coverage for pressure points, he could become a weekly problem that defenses simply can’t solve.
Jared Goff would also be a good fit
Another important piece of the puzzle is Jared Goff. Petching’s offense thrives on concepts of clarity, timing and combination, all of which allow Goff to play fast and confidently.
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According to Dave Burkett of the Detroit Free Press , Goff plans to spend a lot of time this offseason working with Petching to reshape the Lions’ playbook, a familiar process similar to what happened when Ben Johnson first took over.
This cooperation is important. When quarterbacks and coordinators see the game through the same lens, matchup advantages become apparent earlier and mistakes occur less frequently.
What this means for the Lions in 2026
Detroit doesn’t need a complete overhaul of its offense. The pieces are already there.
What Drew Petzing provides is refinement, intent and a relentless focus on exploiting the defense’s weaknesses. With Amon-La St. Brown and Sam Laporta at the center of that vision, the Lions’ offense could become more precise, more efficient and more difficult to defend than ever before.
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If Petzing’s reputation is true, defenses won’t just react.
They will guess.
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