Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta recently shared his feelings about losing Ben Johnson and his initial impressions of new offensive coordinator John Morton.
LaPorta is currently in Mexico for the NFLPA Classic Golf Tournament, where Kay Adams caught up with him for a brief five-minute chat. While much of the conversation revolved around the event and his friendly rivalry with Packers tight end Tucker Kraft, LaPorta also gave some insight into the Lions’ coaching changes this offseason.
Detroit lost Ben Johnson after he accepted the head coaching role with NFC North foe Chicago Bears. LaPorta acknowledged the impact of his departure.
“It’s tough, no doubt,” LaPorta admitted. “You build strong relationships with these people, putting in time, energy, and effort together. It goes both ways—you’re happy for him as he takes on the challenge of running his own team, but it’s also an exciting time for us as we move forward with our new staff and focus on a bright future.”
That future now includes new offensive coordinator John Morton, who previously served as the Broncos’ pass game coordinator. Morton was an offensive assistant with Detroit in 2022, but that was before LaPorta joined the team. This offseason, LaPorta had the chance to meet with him for about 10-15 minutes.
“I’ve gotten to know him personally. As a coach, that remains to be seen. We have a great future ahead of us, and I’m looking forward to working with him. I can’t wait to get started at OTAs,” LaPorta said.
So, what’s his first impression of Morton?
“Great guy. Strong personality. He seems passionate—which is always a plus—and very competitive,” LaPorta noted.
The two will officially begin working together during OTAs. While the Lions haven’t announced exact dates, they are eligible to begin their offseason program on April 21.