Longtime offensive assistant John Morton is getting a second chance at serving as an NFL offensive coordinator this season. However, Morton, who is in his first season as OC with the Detroit Lions, is no longer the offensive play-caller.
That’s perfectly alright with Morton, though, who made it clear to reporters Thursday that all he wants to do is win.
“I’m not going to say exactly how it went down because that’s private, but I fully support it,” Morton said of his changing role, via Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith. “I’ve been doing this for a while, I’ve been with head coaches who are offensive guys, play callers, so I’m used to that. I feel very prideful with the things I was doing. There’s some things that I’ve got to learn, no doubt, just like everybody else.
“But I’m going to do whatever it takes to win.”
Dan Campbell Assumes Play-Calling Duties From John Morton
Morton didn’t want to reveal his conversation with Campbell about the head coach becoming the Lions offensive play-caller. But Morton did share his reaction to the decision.
“As soon as he said it, I’m like, ‘OK, let’s go.’ That’s the way I’ve always been in this business,” Morton told reporters. “I’ve been cut six times, I’ve been fired, you just march on. Because it’s always about the team. It is. It ain’t about me, my goals, this and that. No, the ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to help this team win,” Morton said. “We just keep marching forward.”
Morton is in his first season as Lions offensive coordinator, but he has coached with Campbell previously. In 2022, Morton was an offensive assistant for the Lions.
In 2016, the two coaches crossed paths with the New Orleans Saints. Campbell coached the Saints tight ends while Morton was the wide receivers coach.
That relationship might make it a little easier to accept a changing role. Morton also remains a vital part of the Lions coaching staff. He continues to prepare the team’s offensive game plan, which Campbell now must execute as the team’s play-caller.
Morton’s Experience as Offensive Coordinator
Morton’s only other experience as an offensive coordinator before this season was in 2017 with the New York Jets. It didn’t exactly work out well.
The Jets finished 24th in yards and 28th in points scored that season. They posted a 5-11 record.
However, Morton shouldn’t get all the blame. Josh McCown and Bryce Petty were his starting quarterbacks.
This season, Morton was receiving the chance to work with a much more tainted Detroit offense. Morton’s Lions are ranked second in points scored and sixth in yards.
But Campbell still made the change at play-caller in Week 10. The Lions head coach stressed that the alteration won’t impact the coaching staff.
“Listen, John Morton’s all team,” Campbell told reporters on Sunday. “That’s all he cares about. He just wants to win. He wants to be a part of it. He wants to help where he can, and he was outstanding today.”
With Campbell calling plays against the Washington Commanders during Week 10, the Lions scored 44 points and racked up 546 offensive yards.
That set a new season high. The Lions had 226 rushing yards and 320 passing yards.
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