The Detroit Lions are searching for their third offensive coordinator in as many years after parting ways with John Morton on January 6, 2026. This decision comes just over two months after head coach Dan Campbell relieved Morton of his play-calling responsibilities.
Morton, who returned to the Lions in the previous winter after a stint with the Denver Broncos, had played a crucial role in designing a high-scoring offense in 2022. The Lions maintained their status as one of the league’s top-scoring teams; however, their performance was inconsistent, particularly in the rushing game, where they struggled significantly. Despite averaging 29.9 points and 125.1 rushing yards per game with Morton directing the plays, the team managed only 26.9 points and 115.6 rushing yards under Campbell’s lead, finishing the year with a 4-5 record in those games.
In a notable shift, Campbell assumed the offensive play-calling after the Lions faced a 27-24 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 9. Although the team displayed one of its strongest performances the following week against the Washington Commanders, winning 44-22, they were unable to maintain that successful offensive output for the rest of the season.
Moving forward, the Lions have the opportunity to consider a wider range of candidates for the offensive coordinator position. Past interviews were limited to familiar faces, but Campbell may now contemplate enlisting the likes of former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll or Denver Broncos pass game coordinator Davis Webb. A critical focus for the new coordinator will be to enhance the Lions’ rushing attack – a unit that went winless in the seven games where they failed to surpass 100 rushing yards.
Campbell’s tenure as head coach has seen three different offensive coordinators: Morton, Ben Johnson, who left for the head coach position at the Chicago Bears, and Anthony Lynn, who was also relieved of his play-calling duties during Campbell’s first season. The Lions are hopeful that a fresh approach will reinvigorate their offense and lead them back to success as they continue to build on their performance from previous seasons.