Amon-Ra St. Brown takes aim at Lions fans amid Drew Petzing hire criticism

Detroit Lions star wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has found himself at the centre of an unexpected offseason debate after speaking out against fans who criticised the team’s hiring of Drew Petzing as the new offensive coordinator.

The Lions moved on from John Morton after just one season in charge of the offense and quickly appointed Petzing, who previously served as offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals. While the move was meant to bring fresh ideas to Detroit’s attack, a section of the fan base reacted with frustration and doubt.

Amon-Ra St. Brown defends the front office

Speaking on his podcast with his brother Equanimeous, St. Brown urged fans to show patience and trust the leadership of head coach Dan Campbell.



“Do you guys have no trust in Dan and the Lions?” he said. “Do you think they would just hire a random dude? Be for real.”

The Pro Bowl receiver went a step further by questioning the football knowledge of fans who rushed to judge the decision.

“Most of you guys don’t really know much about anything about any ball, and you’re tweeting about a coach you don’t like because of X, Y, Z,” St. Brown added. “Relax. Calm down. Let the whole thing play out.”

His blunt comments quickly spread across social media, drawing mixed reactions from Detroit supporters.

Why did the hire sparked debate?

Petzing’s recent record in Arizona played a big role in the criticism. The Cardinals finished near the bottom of the league in scoring and total yards in 2025, and their offence struggled with injuries and quarterback instability.

However, there were positives. Under Petzing, tight end Trey McBride enjoyed a breakout season, and the Cardinals ran one of the league’s most creative run-heavy and play-action systems when healthy.

Some analysts believe Petzing could be a good fit for Detroit, especially with young stars like Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown is already in place.



Many Lions fans did not take kindly to being told they “don’t know much.” On social media, several supporters pointed to the team’s recent coaching turnover and lack of playoff success as reasons for their concern.



Detroit has never reached a Super Bowl, and after another disappointing season, emotions remain high.

Still, others backed St. Brown’s message, arguing that it is unfair to judge a coach before he has coached a single game in Detroit.

For now, the debate highlights the pressure surrounding the Lions as they prepare for the 2026 season. Petzing will be judged not by his past numbers, but by how well he can unlock the potential of Detroit’s offence.

St. Brown’s comments show he believes in the organisation’s direction, even if that belief comes with some tough words for the fan base.



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