ARIZONA — The Arizona Cardinals have hit their stride over the last four weeks, going 4-0 and displaying some of the league’s best football.
Kyler Murray is performing like an MVP contender, Marvin Harrison Jr. leads rookies in receiving touchdowns, James Conner remains in peak form, and Trey McBride is shining—all thanks to the direction of offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. However, Petzing’s success might make him a sought-after head coach soon.
The Athletic recently included Petzing in their list of 2025 head coaching candidates. “The Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator has brought out the best in Kyler Murray, and rival coaches and executives have been impressed by Petzing’s work over the last couple of seasons,” wrote Jeff Howe.
Petzing, 37, spent six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, learning under Norv Turner, Pat Shurmur, John DeFilippo, and Kevin Stefanski, before joining Stefanski with the Cleveland Browns. He was relatively unknown when he arrived in Arizona, but under Jonathan Gannon’s leadership, the Cardinals have emerged as a promising, well-coached team. Petzing seems poised for head coaching interviews soon.
Arizona’s offense currently ranks just outside the league’s top ten, averaging 346.4 yards per game and scoring 28 or more points in the last three outings.
Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr also pointed to Petzing as a head coaching prospect: “Petzing has crafted the NFL’s second-best opening-drive offense and ranks fourth in offensive efficiency per play. The 37-year-old Middlebury graduate started his coaching career in the Ivy League and joined the NFL with the Browns in 2013. He was a key part of Mike Zimmer’s Vikings staff, which also developed head coaches Jonathan Gannon and Kevin Stefanski.”
In a league increasingly focused on young, offensive-minded head coaches, Petzing aligns perfectly with the type of candidate many organizations are looking for.
Reflecting on Arizona’s early struggles, Petzing remarked, “It’s been a bit inconsistent. I hold my playcalling accountable for how we perform as an offense. When we’re on track, I take pride, and I credit the players for their execution. But when we struggle, I look at what I can improve. We need to address our inconsistency, and that begins with me as a playcaller.”
Having witnessed Jonathan Gannon’s impact on the Cardinals’ turnaround firsthand, Petzing may soon have a chance to lead his own team down a similar path.
