Tag: John Morton

Lions fire OC John Morton after one season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

John Morton, who was relieved of his play-calling duties eight games into his first season as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, was fired on Tuesday.

The Lions announced they had “parted ways” with Morton, 56, after finishing 9-8 and missing the playoffs in a season with championship expectations.

Morton replaced Ben Johnson, who left to be the Chicago Bears’ head coach after guiding the Lions to spectacular offensive numbers in 2024.

Under Johnson, Detroit boasted the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense (33.2 points per game) and finished second in total offense (409.5 yards per game) in 2024. Detroit’s points (564) and regular-season wins (15) that year were franchise records.

Head coach Dan Campbell took over as offensive play-caller for the Lions this season after a 27-24 home loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 2 dropped the team to 5-3. Detroit beat the host Washington Commanders 44-22 on Nov. 9.

At the end of the 2025 regular season, the Lions ranked fifth in the league in total offense (373.2 yards per game), third in passing (253.1) and 14th in rushing (120.1). Detroit was tied for fourth with the Buffalo Bills at 28.3 points per game.

Morton returned to the organization after a two-year stint as the pass game coordinator in Denver, where in 2024 the Broncos finished 20th in the NFL in pass offense (212.4) and averaged 25.0 points per game.

He spent the 2022 season with the Lions as a senior offensive assistant before joining the Broncos in 2023. The Michigan native previously worked with Detroit quarterback Jared Goff during Johnson’s first season as offensive coordinator.

–Field Level Media

Lions linebacker coach Kelvin Sheppard talks with media during a practice at the Lions practice facility in Allen Park on Monday, June 12, 2023.

Lions announce John Morton as OC, Kelvin Sheppard as DC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions on Thursday announced the hiring of John Morton as offensive coordinator and the promotion of Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator.

Terms of their respective contracts were not disclosed by the Lions.

Morton, 55, replaces Ben Johnson, who was hired as the head coach of the Chicago Bears.

Sheppard, 37, was elevated from linebackers coach to replace Aaron Glenn, now head coach of the New York Jets.

Under Johnson, the Lions boasted the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense this season (33.2 points per game) and finished second in total offense (409.5 yards per game). Detroit’s points (564) and regular-season wins (15) were franchise records.

With Morton as Denver’s pass game coordinator, the Broncos finished 20th in the NFL in pass offense (212.4) and averaged 25.0 points per game.

Morton spent the 2022 season with the Lions as a senior offensive assistant before joining the Broncos in 2023. The Michigan native previously worked with quarterback Jared Goff during Johnson’s first season as offensive coordinator.

When Glenn took over as Detroit’s DC in 2021, Sheppard came on board and has spent the last four seasons learning under the former three-time Pro Bowl defensive back and 15-year NFL veteran.

Sheppard, who played linebacker for eight NFL seasons, including his final season with Detroit in 2018, served as director of player development at his alma mater LSU in 2020 before returning to the Motor City.

–Field Level Media

A Detroit Lions fan wears a robe with the Lions logo on it during a tailgate at Eastern Market before the Lions vs. Washington Commanders playoff game in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.

Reports: Lions name John Morton as offensive coordinator

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Detroit Lions tabbed former Denver Broncos pass game coordinator John Morton as the team’s offensive coordinator, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday.

Morton, 55, will fill the vacancy left open after Ben Johnson became head coach of the Chicago Bears.

Under Johnson, the Lions boasted the NFL’s No. 1 scoring offense this season (33.2 points per game) and finished second in total offense (409.5 yards per game). Detroit’s points (564) and regular-season wins (15) this season were franchise records.

As for Morton, the Broncos finished 20th in the NFL in pass offense (212.4) and averaged 25.0 points per game.

Morton spent the 2022 season with the Lions as a senior offensive assistant before joining the Broncos in 2023. The Michigan native previously worked with quarterback Jared Goff during Johnson’s first season as offensive coordinator.

Morton served as the offensive coordinator with the New York Jets in 2017. He also has worked in various roles with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints.

–Field Level Media