Losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was unavoidable for the Detroit Lions, especially after he accepted the Chicago Bears’ head coach position.
Their search for a replacement led them to John Morton, who most recently served as the Denver Broncos’ passing game coordinator for two years.
Morton’s primary task will be to maintain the success of one of the league’s top offenses, much like Johnson did as the play caller.
However, Morton will likely incorporate his own strategies while adhering to the core principles of the Lions’ offense that head coach Dan Campbell wants to preserve, drawing from his coaching experience since 1998.
Throughout his career, Morton has worked alongside notable offensive minds like Sean Payton, Jon Gruden, and Jim Harbaugh, all of whom hired him multiple times.
Although he has only been a full-time play caller once, in 2017 as the New York Jets’ offensive coordinator, the talent-deprived roster he worked with is not a reflection of his offensive acumen.
Head coach Campbell also recognized Morton’s influence on the Lions’ offense in 2022, stating that Morton played a significant role in helping players grow, including Tanner.
While Johnson brought out the best in many players, there were moments when the offense lacked consistency. With that in mind, these three Lions players could thrive under Morton’s guidance.
3. WR Jameson Williams
Williams made great strides last season, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career and improving his overall receiving ability.
Jared Goff’s effectiveness comes from play-action, especially when targeting the middle of the field. The Lions were the best in the NFL on play-action vertical routes in 2022, leading the league with 1.31 EPA per dropback.
They also averaged 19.2 yards per attempt (third) and had a 69.6 percent success rate (first). Both Kalif Raymond (169 yards) and DJ Chark (127 yards) thrived on these plays, with Raymond’s average of 33.8 yards per target leading the league.
In 2023, the EPA per dropback on play-action vertical routes dropped significantly for the Lions, down to 0.84, and further to 0.75 in 2024, accompanied by a drop in success rate. With Williams emerging as a more complete player, Morton’s offensive approach could reignite the deep passing game, helping Williams take his game to the next level.
2. QB Jared Goff
Goff’s resurgence began in late 2021, and his full comeback occurred in 2022, with both Campbell and Johnson attributing some of that improvement to Morton’s assistance.
Campbell acknowledged Goff’s growth, noting that Morton had been an asset in fine-tuning Goff’s skills. Johnson also expressed pride in how Goff had taken coaching well from various staff members, which translated into improvement each week.
Goff and Johnson developed a strong relationship, and their success was evident on the field. With Morton stepping in, there’s no reason why Goff can’t continue to thrive, as the two will not be starting from scratch like a typical new coordinator-quarterback relationship.
1. RB Jahmyr Gibbs
After a standout rookie season in 2023, Gibbs took his game to new heights this year, accumulating 1,929 yards from scrimmage and 20 total touchdowns.
While his work in the passing game was more explosive (averaging 9.9 yards per reception), his catch total remained the same as his rookie year (52), indicating untapped potential.
In 2022, the Lions were one of the best screen-passing teams in the league, ranking second in yards per attempt (7.0), EPA per dropback (0.39), and success rate (54.2%).
This efficiency helped Goff as he gained confidence in his passing game. However, in the past two seasons without Morton, the screen game has dipped, with the Lions ranking 12th in yards per attempt and 13th in EPA per dropback in 2023.
Gibbs was tied for fifth in yards after catch per reception among running backs in 2024, showing growth as a receiver.
If Morton can elevate the screen game, Gibbs may unlock another level as a pass catcher, becoming even more dangerous in the Lions’ offense.