Aidan Hutchinson Earns Major NFL Award Nominations Amid Lions’ OC Controversy
The Detroit Lions’ recent decision to hire Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator has generated significant debate among fans and analysts alike. Announced on Monday, January 19, the move caught much of the fanbase off guard, particularly given the number of high-profile offensive minds available during the hiring cycle. While criticism of the hire has dominated conversation in Detroit, new developments surrounding defensive standout Aidan Hutchinson have provided a welcome shift in focus.
Throughout a season marked by ups and downs, Hutchinson has remained one of the Lions’ most consistent performers and leaders. Speaking earlier in the year, the Pro Bowl edge rusher emphasized the weekly challenges that define the NFL, regardless of results.
“Every week we’re challenged, win or loss,” Hutchinson said in November. “Coming off a loss, you know you’ve got to get that win. But every week in the NFL is a challenge, and you’ve got to get after them.”
Following a key victory over Washington later that month, Hutchinson again highlighted the team’s defensive cohesion while keeping an eye on what lay ahead.
“It’s huge, monumental,” he said. “We really played really well today defensively, with everybody together. But we’ve got Philly next week, so that’s where our focus is.”
Now, Hutchinson’s efforts have been formally recognized by the league.
Hutchinson Nominated for Two Prestigious NFL Honors
On Thursday, January 22, the Lions announced that Hutchinson has been nominated for both the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards, placing him among the league’s elite performers for the 2025–26 season.
Hutchinson led all edge rushers with 100 total quarterback pressures and recorded a career-high 14.5 sacks. That total tied Ezekiel Ansah’s 2015 mark for the second-most sacks in a single season by a Lions player, trailing only Robert Porcher’s franchise record of 15.0 set in 1999. In addition to his raw production, Hutchinson finished the season as the fourth-highest graded edge rusher in the league according to Pro Football Focus.
The winners of both awards will be announced during the NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday, February 5, held at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco as part of Super Bowl week festivities. The event will air at 9 p.m. ET on NBC and NFL Network, with streaming options available on Peacock and NFL+.
OC Hire Continues to Draw Scrutiny
Despite the positive news surrounding Hutchinson, debate surrounding the Lions’ offensive coordinator hire has not subsided. Petzing’s appointment surprised many around the league, particularly given Detroit’s strong offensive roster and perceived attractiveness of the vacancy.
NFL Trade Rumors analyst Logan Ulrich described the move as unexpected, noting that Petzing had not been publicly linked to coordinator openings prior to the announcement.
“The Lions were interviewing some big-name candidates and were expected to have an in-demand opening,” Ulrich wrote. “Hiring Petzing comes as a fairly big surprise considering he hadn’t been connected to any jobs publicly so far, including Detroit.”
Players within the organization, however, have voiced support for the decision. On the January 21 episode of the St. Brown Podcast, Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown addressed fan backlash directly, urging patience and trust in head coach Dan Campbell and the front office.
“I see Lions fans talking crazy like, ‘Why would we do this?’” St. Brown said. “Do you guys have no trust in Dan and the Lions? You think they’d just hire a random guy? You think they don’t do their research or interviews?”
He continued by emphasizing the gap between online criticism and professional evaluation.
“Most of you don’t really know much about anything football-related, and you’re tweeting about a coach you don’t like for X, Y, or Z reasons,” he added.
As the Lions move forward, Hutchinson’s award nominations offer a reminder of the team’s defensive foundation and long-term potential—providing a moment of optimism amid ongoing scrutiny of organizational decisions.
