Cardinals OC Lands on Future Coaching Candidates List

Drew Petzing might not last in Arizona long.

ARIZONA -- The Arizona Cardinals aren't exactly off to a strong start in 2023, winning just two of their ten games thus far. 

The Cardinals are bad for a myriad of reasons, though coaching inexperience is one of the highlights. Arizona touts first-timers at head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator. 

Jonathan Gannon banked on young, high energy minds to lead the way moving forward, and though immediate results haven't cashed in just yet, there's positive signs both coordinators will pay dividends in the future. 

OC Drew Petzing has particularly impressed those around the facility in Tempe, and that stretches to the national perspective as well. 

NFL insider Tom Pelissero recently highlighted a crop of current young coaches that are notable to watch moving forward for opportunities. 

"A onetime Middlebury College defensive back whose playing career was curtailed by injuries, Petzing broke into the NFL as a football operations intern with the Browns in 2013 before rising through the coaching ranks in Minnesota and again in Cleveland, then reuniting with former Vikings cohort Jonathan Gannon in Arizona this past offseason," said Pelissero. 

"The Cardinals have started three different QBs (and played extended stretches without other key players) in a rebuilding season. Other coaches laud the job Petzing has done under challenging circumstances, and his reputation has been positive at every stop in his young coaching career."

Pelissero points out almost half of all head coaching hires league-wide (20 of 42, 47.6%) since 2017 have been under age 45 with no prior head coach experience, which includes the recent hire of Gannon. 

Also highlighted were Brian Callahan, Ejiro Evero and Mike Kafka - all of whom were involved in Arizona's recent head coaching interview process before the team settled on Gannon. 

"It was great. A different voice than I’m used to, but he was great. The communication was solid. Awesome," Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray said on Petzing. 

"Like I said, the attention to detail with him is major and for me I love it because he’s always got a reason for why we’re doing what we’re doing. He always has an answer for any question that we have, so it’s great.”

Gannon also spoke to Petzing's work with Murray in their first game as a QB-OC pairing:

“Operational. Without taking a snap in a game and in a new system (but) we prepared for a little bit of that. I thought (Offensive Coordinator) Drew (Petzing) did an excellent job though. (There were) a couple of things that he came off and he's like, ‘I'm not comfortable with a couple of things.’ Drew put them away and we played to his strengths. I thought it was a good job by the offensive staff adjusting it and you guys do understand the mental (part) that goes on to the center and the quarterback in the operation."

Petzing's offense has been far different than Kliff Kingsbury's by emphasizing the rushing attack with multiple tight end sets and featuring the quarterback under center. 

If Murray continues to improve and Arizona's offense remains healthy, it's easy to believe Petzing could start to gather steam for the next phase in his career sooner rather than later.