The Detroit Lions shocked the NFL world last season, winning a franchise-record 15 games and boasting the league’s highest-scoring offense. When Ben Johnson left to become head coach of the Chicago Bears, Dan Campbell turned to a familiar face, John Morton, to keep the fireworks going.
And Morton’s message about inheriting this offense? Simple: “I just can’t screw this up.” (H/T to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press for quotes included in this article)
Jared Goff John Morton John Morton Detroit Lions offense
Morton’s Relentless Work Ethic
Morton isn’t your typical play-calling star on the rise. As Campbell put it, he’s a “behind-the-scenes grinder.” Morton is known for keeping long hours, often arriving at the Lions’ facility around 3:30 a.m. to begin preparing practice scripts and game plans.
That obsessive routine started back in his early days with the Oakland Raiders. Morton once asked Hall of Famer Jerry Rice why he still trained so hard late in his career. Rice’s answer stuck with him: “I was scared to death of losing my job.” Morton has carried that same mindset into every stop of his coaching journey.
A Loaded Offense at His Fingertips
Morton isn’t walking into a rebuild, he’s walking into a Ferrari.
Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams headline a wide receiver room that can stretch defenses in every direction.
Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery both cracked 1,000 yards from scrimmage last year, making Detroit’s backfield one of the NFL’s most balanced.
Sam LaPorta has already established himself as one of the best young tight ends in the league.
Jared Goff, coming off MVP votes, provides stability at quarterback.
It’s no wonder Morton looked out at practice this summer and admitted: “I watch these guys warm up, I’m just like, ‘Man, I just can’t screw this up.’”
The Challenge Ahead
Replacing Ben Johnson is no small task. Johnson was one of the most innovative minds in football, and his fingerprints are still all over Detroit’s offense. Morton has wisely chosen to keep most of the terminology in place and collaborate closely with Goff, who praised Morton’s openness and lack of ego.
But Morton isn’t just here to babysit the scheme. He’s already hinted at adding “a few wrinkles,” particularly with how he’ll use Gibbs and Williams in space. The challenge will be balancing creativity with the consistency that made Detroit the league’s top offense in 2024.
John Morton Detroit Lions offense
The Bottom Line
John Morton knows the stakes. The Lions are Super Bowl contenders, armed with an elite roster and sky-high expectations. His words say it all: “I just can’t screw this up.”
If he finds the right balance of continuity and innovation, Detroit’s offense might not just maintain last year’s dominance, it could take the next step toward bringing the franchise its first Lombardi Trophy.