Report: Detroit Lions Assistant Had Major Influence in the Drew Petzing Hire

When the Detroit Lions began their search for a new offensive coordinator, the decision wasn’t made in a vacuum. While head coach Dan Campbell ultimately signs off on every hire, one longtime assistant carried significant influence behind the scenes: offensive line coach and run game coordinator Hank Fraley.

The connection between Fraley and new OC Drew Petzing goes back years, and that familiarity played a major role in Detroit’s comfort level with the hire.

The Fraley–Petzing Connection

Fraley and Petzing worked together on the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff from 2014 through 2016, building a shared football language and philosophy that still carries weight today. That history mattered when Detroit began evaluating candidates to take over the offense.

Fraley has been on the Lions staff since 2018 and has become one of the most trusted voices in the building. Last offseason, the organization worked aggressively to keep him from leaving for a coordinator role elsewhere, underscoring just how highly he is valued.

Albert Breer Explains Why Fraley’s Voice Carried Weight

Sports Illustrated NFL insider Albert Breer detailed just how important Fraley’s input was in the process — and why Petzing emerged as such a natural fit.

Here is Breer’s full quote via Lions OnSI:

“Ex-Cardinals OC Drew Petzing arrives in Detroit with a strong link to line coach/running-game coordinator Hank Fraley, who worked with Petzing in Minnesota from 2014 to ’16. The Lions worked hard to keep Fraley from going to Seattle to be a coordinator last year, and so Fraley’s input in their next steps on offense was always going to be important. And as such, his word carried a lot of weight.”

That statement says everything about how this hire came together.

Why Dan Campbell Valued Familiarity

Dan Campbell has always emphasized trust, alignment, and culture fit when building his staff. Fraley’s endorsement of Petzing gave the organization confidence that:

• The offensive line philosophy would remain intact
• The run game identity would stay physical and aggressive
• Communication between the coordinator and the trenches would be seamless
• The offensive staff would be unified from Day 1

Rather than chasing an outside splash hire, the Lions leaned into continuity and internal chemistry — trusting one of their most respected assistants to help guide the decision.

What It Means for Detroit’s Offense

Everything in Detroit’s offense begins with the offensive line, and Fraley’s unit is the engine of the entire operation. Bringing in a coordinator he already trusts and understands helps preserve the identity that helped push the Lions into Super Bowl contention.

In short, Drew Petzing wasn’t just Dan Campbell’s choice.
He was Hank Fraley’s guy, too.

And in this building, that matters.

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