Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions made a risky move when they hired Drew Petzing in January 2026 as their new offensive coordinator. He comes after an unsuccessful three-year run with the Arizona Cardinals, which saw the team 3-14 for the 2025-26, according to NFL statistics.
Now, that decision is drawing skepticism across the board. Of course, this could turn out to be a homerun hire, but from the outside looking in, it’s a head-scratcher.
“Entering his 14th NFL season in 2026, Petzing’s previous professional experience includes time with the Cleveland Browns as quarterbacks coach (2022), tight ends coach (2020-21) and a football operations intern (2013) and with the Minnesota Vikings as wide receivers coach (2019),” the official Lions website says of his experience, “assistant quarterbacks coach (2018) and assistant wide receivers coach (2014-17).”
But, the Cardinals’ bleak record is difficult to ignore. Now, one NFL analyst is questioning Campbell’s judgement and even going so far to hint that the move could, if it doesn’t work out, put his job in jeopardy.
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell Has a Lot to Prove in the 2026-27 Season
In a feature out on January 20, Mike Payton of A to Z Sports asserts that “Dan Campbell is risking it all with the Lions’ offensive coordinator hire.”
“Let’s start here: I think the Detroit Lions should have hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel as their next offensive coordinator.”
He’s not alone. This writer also believes McDaniel would have been a much smarter hire. But, why wasn’t he the right fit? Perhaps Campbell wants someone who will just follow his lead and not question his judgement? Just a guess, but either way, this author agrees with Payton.
Then, Payton goes one step further and says that if things go wrong with the new hire, “fans won’t be as forgiving as they were with Morton.”
“Sheila Ford Hamp probably isn’t either,” he adds. “I’m not saying that if this doesn’t work out in 2026, Campbell will be fired. That’s probably not happening right away. What I am saying is that the trust he’s built will begin to fade. The leash will get shorter, and the seat will begin to get hot.”
So, if the Lions have another disappointing season in 2026-27, Payton is saying that Campbell may find himself in the hot seat.
‘We’ll Know Soon Enough’ If Dan Campbell Picked the Right Offensive Coordinator for the Detroit Lions
“The good news is two-fold. Campbell and the Lions made a move that they feel good about,” he adds. “This wasn’t something they were pressured into or something they had to do out of necessity because nobody wanted to come here.”
Payton continues, “The other part is that they did not rush this. They interviewed nine candidates and took their time before landing on the guy they liked the most. We’ll see soon enough if he was the right guy.”
But, Campbell is a believer. “I believe that things happen for a reason, right wrong or indifferent,” Campbell said after the Chicago Bears game. “Just when something like this happens, I believe it’s going to be for the best. It’s up to Brad (Holmes) and I to make it for the best and the guys that we know we’re going to count on on this team.”
He added, “So, that’s how I view it. Because as good as it felt to get that and it’s the last one, it’s — I mean, let’s call it what it is.”
