The Detroit Lions have dismissed offensive coordinator John Morton after a disappointing 9-8 season that ended without a playoff berth. Morton, who replaced Ben Johnson last offseason, oversaw an offense that ranked lower in key metrics compared to the previous year's success. Head coach Dan Campbell assumed play-calling duties midseason in an effort to revitalize the unit.
The Detroit Lions announced the firing of offensive coordinator John Morton on Tuesday, following a 9-8 regular season that marked the team's first playoff miss since 2022. Hired to succeed Ben Johnson, who departed for the Chicago Bears head coaching job, Morton faced immense pressure to maintain the Lions' offensive prowess. Under Johnson in 2024, Detroit led the NFL with 33.2 points per game en route to a 15-2 record and an NFC North title, though they fell in the divisional round to the Washington Commanders. The 2023 season saw a 12-5 mark and an NFC Championship loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
In 2025, the Lions tied for fourth in scoring at 28.3 points per game, placed third in passing yards, and eighth in red zone efficiency, but struggled elsewhere, finishing 20th on third downs and 14th in rushing. Running back duo Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery underperformed in the run game, with Montgomery carrying the ball a career-low 158 times despite Gibbs' strong year. Ahead of their Week 10 victory over the Commanders, Campbell stepped in as the primary play-caller, describing the shift as an experiment rather than a demotion.
"It was just, let's try something a little different," Campbell said at the time. "Look, I know what I want to do, I know how I want to do it. Now, that being said, this is a collaborative effort. I was taking input from John Morton that whole time, and the other coaches."
Morton, 56, joined Campbell's staff as a senior offensive assistant in 2022 before spending two years with the Denver Broncos as passing game coordinator. His prior experience includes a stint as offensive coordinator for the New York Jets in 2017 and assistant roles with the Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, and San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile, Johnson led the Bears to an NFC North title in his first year, positioning Chicago to host the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round.
