Today, the Detroit Lions revealed the appointment of John Morton as their offensive coordinator and elevated Kelvin Sheppard to the role of defensive coordinator. The terms of the contract were not revealed.
JOHN MORTON – COORDINATOR OF OFFENSE
After working as the Lions’ Senior Offensive Assistant in 2022, Morton makes his return to Detroit as the offensive coordinator for the team in 2025. During his time away from Detroit, Morton worked for two seasons as the Broncos’ Passing Game Coordinator (2023-24), assisting Broncos QB Bo Nix in achieving the second-most passing touchdowns (29), third-most completions (376), and eighth-most passing yards (3,775) by a rookie quarterback in NFL history in 2024.
Entering his 23rd NFL season in 2025, Morton’s prior NFL background encompasses roles such as the Raiders’ senior offensive assistant (2019-21), New York Jets’ offensive coordinator (2017), wide receivers coach for the New Orleans Saints (2015-16), wide receivers/passing game coach with the San Francisco 49ers (2011-14), Saints’ offensive assistant/passing game coach (2006), and various offensive coaching positions with the Raiders from 1998-2004. His initial NFL experience occurred in 1997 with the Raiders’ personnel division.
In 2005, Morton was the passing game and wide receivers coach at the University of San Diego, and from 2007 to 2010, he held several positions on the offensive side at USC, including that of offensive coordinator. Hailing from Rochester Hills, Mich., and an alumnus of Western Michigan, Morton joined the NFL in 1993 as an undrafted free agent, having time on the practice squad and training camp as a wide receiver with the Raiders, Green Bay Packers, and Jacksonville Jaguars during the 1993-96 seasons. He additionally played for the Toronto Argonauts in the CFL from 1995 to 1996 and for the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe in 1997.
KELVIN SHEPPARD – COORDINATOR OF DEFENSE
Sheppard begins his fifth season in Detroit and his first as the defensive coordinator for the Lions in 2025, following his roles as the team’s linebackers coach (2022-24) and outside linebackers coach (2021). Under Sheppard’s guidance, LB Jack Campbell made history as the first Lions player to achieve a minimum of 85 tackles and five tackles for loss in each of his initial two seasons since tracking began in 1994, while LB Alex Anzalone (2022-23) became the fourth player in the franchise’s history to record at least 125 tackles in multiple seasons. In 2022, Sheppard assisted LB Malcolm Rodriguez in becoming the first Detroit rookie picked in the sixth round or later to start Week 1 of his draft year since 1987.
Before joining the coaching field, Sheppard was chosen by the Buffalo Bills in the third round (68th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft from LSU and spent eight seasons (2011-18) with the Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, and Lions. He played in 107 career matches (63 as a starter) and recorded 400 total tackles, 3.0 sacks, and two interceptions. After his playing career, he rejoined the LSU football program in 2020 as the director of player development under coach Ed Orgeron. At LSU, Sheppard was assigned to assist players with their academic guidance, social growth, and overall well-being.