The Detroit Lions totally bucked popular opinion by hiring Drew Petzing to be their new offensive coordinator. While Detroit can likely make Petzing's offense work by simply plugging holes on their offensive line this offseason, it felt like a missed opportunity to make a big swing hire and bring on Mike McDaniel, instead.
McDaniel, who interviewed for the job, was not seen as a good fit for the Lions, per ESPN's Jeff Darlington. He then signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, choosing to take a "demotion" in order to coach up a promising Justin Herbert in California. Honestly, you cannot blame him for seeing a great opportunity with Herbert and that Chargers offense.
With that hiring, the Lions avoided something pretty awkward working against their favor in the 2026 regular season: a potential revenge game called by McDaniel had he taken another job in the league that he was rumored to be a favorite for, which was running the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense.
Lions avoid potential revenge game vs. McDaniel in 2026
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported earlier this week that Tampa Bay could've sneakily be a great fit for McDaniel. With Todd Bowles' total control over the defense, McDaniel would have likely have a ton of autonomy running the Buccaneers' offense. And, there would've been a nice path to becoming a head coach in Tampa Bay if a change is made there.
Should've, could've, would've. Things Lions fans are also saying to themselves after the team bucked the chance to hire McDaniel in favor of the somewhat uninspiring hiring of Petzing.
The Buccaneers are facing the Lions this season at Ford Field, with the Lions' 4th-place schedule revealing itself after their Week 18 win over the Chicago Bears. If Breer's hunch would have been correct, that game would have been under a ridiculous microscope by Lions fans.
It would've been a fantastic opportunity for armchair analysts to pick apart a head-to-head matchup between the winner of the Lions' OC sweepstakes and potentially the guy they saw as a 2nd place contender.
READ MORE: Lions' Drew Petzing hire comes with a fun anti-Bears twist fans may like
Now, Detroit will just have to wait and see if these two teams miraculously link up in the Super Bowl in order to actually get a chance to play the comparison game.
McDaniel walking for the AFC is good news for Detroit, as it looks like other contenders within the conference - the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears, to name a few - are staying pretty predictable as it pertains to their staff.