Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell teased it heading into the game, and on Sunday against the Washington Commanders it happened. The fact he was holding a "call sheet" with the offensive plays on it was not a new thing, but the fact he was wearing glasses easily gave away that he was calling the plays.
While the Commanders' defense was in a depleted state, the recent struggles of the Lions' offense were put in the rearview mirror with 44 points and 546 yards of offense. Campbell was doing things in a way Morton has been either hesitant or incapable of, most noticeably with how wide receiver Jameson Williams and running back David Montgomery were more involved than they've generally been.
Stripping an offensive coordinator of play-calling duties is a red flag for his job security. Campbell did it during his first season as Lions' head coach, taking over play-calling from Anthony Lynn. The offense was notably better late that season, due in no small part to Ben Johnson becoming passing game coordinator as the precursor to him becoming offensive coordinator after that season.
While Campbell made it clear Sunday's effort was a collaborative thing, with Morton absolutely involved, the initial questions about how aligned they'd be have come to fruition. Morton has not been an offensive coordinator or play-caller very often over the course of a long coaching career, and maybe we've now found out why.
Campell did not fire Lynn during the 2021 season, but he of course was gone as soon as that season concluded. A repeat with Morton this year is now in the offing, starting with the commonality of Campbell taking over play-calling (perhaps for the rest of the season).
So while it surely falls into the "way too early category", let's read the tea leaves and explore some candidates to replace Morton as the Lions' offensive coordinator after the season.
5 way too early candidates to replace John Morton as Detroit Lions offensive coordinator
5. Mike McDaniel
McDaniel's seat as Miami Dolphins' head coach has oscilated from hot to lukewarm this season. it's definitely on the cooler side right now, after the team has popped up with two fantastic performances against the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills in two of their last three games.
After general manager Chris Grier was fired late last month, there were indications McDaniel could keep his job if the players kept playing hard for him. Ideally it will sustain past the 30-13 win over the Bills in Week 10, but McDaniel may indeed be moving toward saving his job.
But at a certain point, as Bill Parcells once said, "you are what your record says you are." No amount of love owner Stephen Ross has for McDaniel should save him if the Dolphins finish this season 5-12.
If McDaniel is fired by the Dolphins after the season, he will be in demand for practically every offensive coordinator opening there will be. If Campbell authors a thorough process to replace Morton, if he replaces Morton, McDaniel is an automatic candidate for an interview if he's available.
4. Pete Carmichael
Carmichael in his second season as a senior offensive assistant with the Denver Broncos, working under long-time boss Sean Payton.
Before reuniting with Payton in Denver, Carmichael was on the New Orleans Saints' coaching staff from 2006-2023 as quarterbacks coach (2006), then quarterbacks coach/passing game coordinator (2007-2008) and finally, a lengthy stint as offensive coordinator (2009-2023).
While Payton and Drew Brees naturally get the credit for the success the Saints' offense had for many of those years, Carmichael became the play-caller after Payton left and guided the ninth-best scoring offense in the league during his final season in New Orleans.
Carmichael's long run with the Saints of course means he was on Payton's offensive staff with Campbell for five seasons (2016-2020). While it might be nice to see Campbell extend outside of coaches he knows if he looks to replace Morton, Carmichael deserves mention here based solely on that tie.
3. Brian Daboll
Daboll was fired as New York Giants head coach after another lost late lead against the Chicago Bears in Week 10. He probably would've been dismissed after the season anyway, but he can now get a head start on surveying his options for 2026. It's possible he'll land somewhere in a consultant role to finish the season.
Daboll made himself into a head coaching candidate during his time as the Buffalo Bills' offensive coordinator from 2018-2021. More specifically, he helped turn Josh Allen from a raw, strong-armed prospect into the more refined passer we see today. Buffalo had a top-five offense in scoring and total yardage in each of Daboll's last two years calling the plays.
READ MORE: Dan Campbell needed just one game to show he should be calling the shots
Campbell started his coaching career as an intern with the Miami Dolphins in 2010. Daboll took over as offensive coordinator in 2011, and hired Campbell to be his tight ends coach. The details of Campbell's interview with Daboll differ slightly based on which of the two men you ask, but Campbell obviously got the job and the two have maintained some level of friendship since.
Daboll may simply be one of those coaches who's best-suited to being a coordinator. As potential outside candidates to replace Morton in Detroit go, he may now be at the top of the list.
2. Hank Fraley
If Ben Johnson had taken a head coaching job a couple years ago, there was some buzz Fraley would've followed him and become offensive coordinator. He interviewed twice for the Seattle Seahawks' offensive coordinator post after last season, and Johnson surely wanted him for his Chicago Bears' staff, but he wound up staying on as the Lions' offensive line coach with the additional title of run game coordinator.
Fraley has shown great loyalty to Campbell, foregoing leaving for the Bears with Johnson and possibly shunning the Seahawks if they wanted to hire him. But offensive coordinator opportunities are sure to keep coming his way, and an inevitable point will come where he takes one. Truth be told, that opportunity may come via a simple promotion if Morton is gone after the season.
1. Scottie Montgomery
Montgomery moved from running backs coach to wide receivers coach this year, his third on the staff in Detroit. That was an easy move though, given his lengthy and unique coaching resume.
-Duke, Wide receivers coach (2006-2009)
-Pittsburgh Steelers, Wide receivers coach (2010-2012)
-Duke, Associate head coach/offensive coordinator/passing game/wide receivers coach (2013)
-Duke, Associate head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2014-2015)
-East Carolina, Head coach (2016-2018)
-Maryland, Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (2019-2020)
-Indianapolis Colts, Running backs coach (2021-2022)
-Detroit Lions, Associate head coach/running backs coach (2023-2024)
-Detroit Lions, Associate head coach/wide receivers coach (2025)
Montgomery has gotten some looks for offensive coordinator jobs elsewhere, including an interview right after Campbell hired him as running backs coach in 2023. His next logical step is to be an offensive coordinator somewhere, and it may very well be Detroit in 2026 if Campbell lets Morton go.