THE CARDINALS’ CORNER
UPDATE: FEBRUARY 19, 2023 AT 8:04 AM
Minnesota Vikings coach Drew Petzing is seen during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan, USA on Sunday October 20, 2019 (Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Cardinals have reportedly hired Cleveland Browns quarterbacks coach Drew Petzing as Arizona’s offensive coordinator, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The report comes a day after news broke that the Cardinals have hired former Philadelphia Eagles linebackers coach Nick Rallis as defensive coordinator.
Petzing’s hire reunites the new OC with Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon after the pair spent four seasons together as members of the Minnesota Vikings coaching staff from 2014-2017.
Petzing, 35, will now be tasked with getting the most out of quarterback Kyler Murray and the rest of the offense after a disastrous 2022 that saw the caller go down with a season-ending knee injury.
“I have a very specific vision of how I want to play on offense, and the person who comes here to run the offense is going to understand that whatever we do will be structured around the quarterback position to maximize his skill set. — and we have an elite,” Gannon said during his introductory press conference last Thursday.
“We also have elite players in different positions already on the roster that I’m very excited to work with, and that’s what we’re going to do. Just a general philosophy of adaptation and we’re going to maximize Kyler’s skill set. .
Petzing is coming off his first season as the Browns’ QB coach after working with Cleveland tight ends for the past two years.
In 2022 Petzing worked with Jacoby Brissett and Deshaun Watson. In 11 starts before Watson was reinstated from suspension, Brissett completed 64% of his throws for 2,608 yards and 12 touchdowns for six interceptions. He also scored on the ground twice. Although he didn’t get a full season of work, Brissett had one of his best years as a professional.
Prior to his last stint with the Browns, Petzing spent six seasons with the Vikings as an offensive assistant (2014-15), assistant wide receivers coach (2016-17), assistant QB coach (2018) and WR coach. (2019).
His introduction to the world of NFL coaching was as a football operations intern with the Browns in 2013.