The Detroit Lions remain among the NFC’s most quality teams in 2025, but things haven’t run quite so smoothly as they did over the past two seasons.
Detroit entered its Week 10 contest with the Washington Commanders at 5-3 having lost two of its last three contests. Playing on the road and without making any announcements leading up to the game, Lions head coach Dan Campbell appeared to assume play-calling duties based on first-hand reports.
“#Lions HC Dan Campbell has a play sheet and is doing the talking into the headset in between plays,” Mike Garofolo of NFL Network reported via X. “Lots of indications of a disconnect between [offensive coordinator] John Morton and the players and coaches. Campbell appears to have taken over offensive play calling, which he indicated was possible.”
Lions Missing Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson as Offensive Coordinator
GettyChicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
Morton is in his first year as OC in Detroit following the exit of Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears, where he is now the head coach of a 6-3 squad in his first season at the helm.
Former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn also left following the 2024 campaign to take a head coaching position with the New York Jets. Kelvin Sheppard stepped in for Glenn ahead of this season and caught some heat as a candidate for the LSU job after that university fired former head coach Brian Kelly earlier this year. Meanwhile, Morton may have lost play-calling privileges halfway into his first season on the job.
Campbell’s move appeared to breathe life into the Lions’ offense, which posted 35 points through three quarters and held a 19-point advantage over the Commanders heading into the final stanza. Quarterback Jared Goff was 24-of-32 passing for 312 yards and three touchdowns heading into the fourth period, while Detroit’s rushing attack had amassed 139 ground yards and one score collectively.
The Lions finished second, third and fourth in overall offense over the last three years, respectively, with Johnson at the helm of the unit. Detroit was outside the top 10 in total offense (No. 11) heading into Week 10 against the Commanders.
Dan Campbell Likely to Retain Play-Calling Duties for Lions’ Offense After Big Game Against Commanders
GettyDetroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff talks with head coach Dan Campbell on the sidelines during an NFL game in 2025.
Detroit mustered just 24 points in a home loss to the Minnesota Vikings last weekend. The Lions also failed to eclipse 20 points on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 13, falling to the reigning AFC champions by a score of 30-17.
Sunday’s contest in Washington was the first time in a month that Detroit eclipsed 24 points of offense, which indicates that Campbell is likely to retain play-calling duties moving forward.
The Lions will travel to Philadelphia next week to square off against the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles before a three-game home stand against the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys, respectively.
With a win Sunday, the Lions will move into a tie with the Chicago Bears at 6-3 in the NFC North Division. The Packers are 5-2-1 and host the Eagles on “Monday Night Football” on November 10. A loss in that game would push Green Bay back into third place in the division, bumping the Lions and Bears into first, though Detroit holds the tiebreak via a head-to-head victory over Chicago in Week 2.
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