New Lions offensive coordinator John Morton confirms he will call plays

As Detroit Lions head coacn Dan Campbell talked about the expectation he was going to lose offensive coordinator Ben Johnson (which happened before that day was over), he noted something he learned from when he hired Anthony Lynn as his first offensive coordinator back in 2021.

"Make sure that I am heavily involved in however we go. I am very offensive-heavy, I think is the best way to say that," Campbell said. "Certainly picking, I am picking that, I need to have my checklist done. But then on top of that, I need to be part of the whole process. There’s a number of things, when that transition (of hiring Anthony Lynn in 2021) took place....So you kind of allow all those things to happen and then it’s a blind spot, and it shouldn’t be because that’s my area of expertise."

As an outside hire to replace Johnson goes, John Morton is about as ideal as it gets. He was on the Lions' staff in 2022, then he spent the last two seasons as the Denver Broncos' passing game coordinator under Campbell's mentor Sean Payton.

Morton has also only really been a play caller once in his long coaching career, as the New York Jets' offensive coordinator in 2017. The results weren't great, but neither was the group of players he had to work with. That three top offensive minds (Payton, Jim Harbaugh, Jon Gruden) have hired him multiple times speaks volumes.

But it was worth wondering if Campbell might take over the play calling, like he did when he demoted Lynn during the 2021 season. He also didn't announce that Johnson would call the plays in 2022 until the start of the regular season.

John Morton confirms he will be calling the Lions' offensive plays

Morton talked to Dan Miller of Fox2 in an interview that aired Monday night. The Lions radio play-by-play man started by asking Morton for his general thoughts on coming back to the Lions, back to his home state, etc.

"I think it’s an unbelievable opportunity just to get another chance," Morton said. "Calling plays for the first time at the Jets, that was an experience. I’ve learned from that. But just being here at home. I grew up here, family’s still here. I understand what it takes. I’ve seen the ups, a lot of the downs. Barry Sanders, I grew up a Barry Sanders fan. But it’s really exciting for this opportunity. You don’t get too many of them, and I’m ready.”

Miller asked for firm clarification from Morton that he is calling the plays, to which Morton said, "I am, yes."

Miller asked Morton how it's different for him this time around as an offensive coordinator. He was of course one-and-done with the Jets, as Todd Bowles had a different offensive coordinator in each of his last three seasons as the head coach. The offensive staff around Morton stayed intact, which can make a new coordinator's job more difficult.

"I just think that situation in New York, it was tough," Morton said. "I was hired in and I had to keep the coaches, I didn’t know anybody there. Here I know people, they know me, I know them. We just finalized our staff. I was in on those interviews, and I can’t tell you how excited I am for the coaches that we have here now. It’s big.” 

The Lions have of course had a lot of turnover on their coaching staff this offseason, but offensive line coach (and now run game coordinator) Hank Fraley and quarterbacks coach Mark Brunell remain from the Lions' staff when Morton was on it back in 2022. And as Morton said, he has had input into who is filling out the offensive staff around him (Tashard Choice, Tyler Roehl). Having a lot more talent to call an offense for will also be a big help in his second go-round as a play-caller.