The Detroit Lions aren’t going to revamp their offense under new coordinator John Morton after being the top offense in the NFL last season.
Personnel changes have been minimal, but now it’s Morton’s offense and he’s calling plays. That’s a key piece for the Lions as they progress through the offseason and Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this summer.
It’s been eight years since Morton was last an offensive coordinator and calling plays when he served the same role for the New York Jets.
There’s quite a different offense with the Lions [helmed by quarterback Jared Goff](https://www.mlive.com/lions/2025/05/jared-goff-ready-to-help-ease-in-lions-new-coaching-staff.html) and a talented group alongside him compared to the Josh McCown-led Jets that went 5-11 in Morton’s lone season.
As Detroit continues to get its offense ready, looking at a four-game preseason slate that begins with the Hall of Fame Game on July 31 is full of opportunity to get Morton and the offense comfortable for the 2025 season.
“Training camp it’ll be big. That’s one of the positives of four games. You’re going to have four games to be able to do that,” coach Dan Campbell said Friday. “We’re going to do a ton of calling periods, a ton of moving the ball, a ton of change-the-situation where you have to think on your feet immediately.”
Being able to handle situational football is of the utmost importance for the Lions with Campbell’s propensity to be aggressive with the ball.
“I’m learning that, but I am aggressive. That’s how I teach,” Morton told reporters in May. “I’m in the process of all that, situational football and learning that ‘Hey, once we reach a certain place on the field, my mindset has to change.’ I have to learn to do that — because that’s different."
Campbell’s got plenty of faith in Morton getting back to his play-calling past after holding the role with the Jets and previously serving as a co-playcaller for Pete Carroll’s 2009 USC team.
He also mentioned Morton was a go-to guy in his season spent as an offensive assistant with the Lions in 2022 for when Campbell needed a key play call.
It helps Morton’s not doing an offensive overhaul, rather focusing on how effectively he communicates with players and other coaches in and out of games.
“I’m not changing much. I mean, why? It’s working, right?” Morton said. “Now it’s just about techniques and certain things, how I talk, how I see it, how I’m teaching them the concepts, why we’re calling this. It might be something they’ve never heard before, because I’m teaching everybody how you teach the quarterback, because I think that’s important.”
Between his stints with the Lions, Morton was a key figure in the Denver Broncos’ emerging offense under rookie quarterback Bo Nix, serving as passing game coordinator.
Developing a strong rapport with Goff and his offense is how the Lions will make the most of their offseason and hope for picking up right where the team’s offense left off in the 2024 regular season.
“I’ve got familiarity with Johnny,” Goff said Friday after OTAs. “The biggest challenge is just getting on the same page with what you like and we’re just constantly working through that...getting used to the way Dan wants to play games. We’ll be fine. Like I said, Johnny’s done a hell of a job at this point.”