Dan Campbell has completed his coordinator hires by appointing a familiar face to replace the departed Ben Johnson—former Denver Broncos pass game coordinator John Morton as the offensive coordinator. Morton, who previously worked as a senior offensive assistant for Detroit, played a pivotal role in shaping the Lions’ rising 2022 offense, contributing innovative ideas and play designs. Campbell’s choice to bring him back signals confidence in Morton’s ability to continue leading the team’s potent offense alongside key players like Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Hank Fraley, and other returning staff.
Morton is well-regarded for his offensive expertise, having worked under top coaches like Jon Gruden, Jim Harbaugh, and Sean Payton, who all hired him multiple times. Now, Campbell follows suit, promoting Morton to a prominent role.
There’s plenty of justification for this move. Morton has helped build several successful offenses, bringing sharp passing game concepts that enhance quarterback efficiency. His ability to put Goff in favorable situations aligns well with run game coordinator Hank Fraley, who also received a well-deserved promotion.
Below, I explore three underrated aspects of Morton’s hiring, drawing from his influence on the 2022 Lions offense and his experience in Denver.
Improved Screen Plays
One area where the 2022 Lions shined—though it became less effective as the season progressed—was screen passing. Under Ben Johnson’s guidance, the Lions’ screen plays were a well-executed and impactful part of their offense, although they became less dominant as the season unfolded. Morton, part of a young offensive staff at the time, likely played an essential role in developing these concepts.
In 2022, the Lions ranked among the NFL’s best in screen efficiency, averaging 7.0 yards per attempt (second), 0.39 EPA per dropback (second), and a 54.2% success rate (fourth). That 0.39 EPA per dropback was the third-highest of any team in the past three years. Screens helped take pressure off Jared Goff, allowing him to regain confidence without carrying the entire aerial attack.
After Morton’s departure, the Lions’ screen game efficiency dipped in 2023, though it remained productive. They averaged 5.4 yards per attempt (12th), 0.03 EPA per dropback (13th), and a 45.5% success rate (sixth). In 2024, the numbers rebounded with an impressive offense, but neither season quite matched the 2022 peak.
With Morton’s return, Detroit could see a revitalized screen game, adding another dimension to their already elite offense.
Deep Ball Efficiency
In 2022, the Lions averaged 26.6 points per game (fifth), taking full advantage of their roster’s strengths. One of their key strategies was attacking defenses with deep play-action passing, an area where the offense excelled. While the Lions have continued to thrive in subsequent seasons, their focus shifted more toward the middle of the field with play-action, somewhat at the expense of their deep passing efficiency.
In 2022, the Lions led the NFL in play-action vertical routes, posting 1.31 EPA per dropback—the highest of both 2022 and 2023. They averaged 19.2 yards per attempt (third) and a 69.6% success rate. Kalif Raymond and DJ Chark were integral to this success, with Raymond recording 169 receiving yards (fourth) and Chark adding 127 yards (13th). Raymond’s average of 33.8 yards per target on these plays was the highest in the NFL that season.
In 2023, their play-action vertical production dipped, averaging 0.84 EPA per dropback (second), 20.9 yards per attempt (third), and a 50% success rate (12th). In 2024, the numbers declined further, suggesting missed opportunities in deep passing, despite Jameson Williams’ presence.
If Morton can reintroduce a more effective deep-passing element with play-action, it could help stretch defenses and open up both the middle-field passing attack and running game.
Quarterback Development
Another underrated aspect of Morton’s hire is his extensive experience in developing quarterbacks, which could benefit both Jared Goff and rookie Hendon Hooker. While Goff is already playing at an All-Pro level, Morton’s expertise could help maintain that standard. However, his background in nurturing quarterbacks makes him especially valuable for backup Hooker.
In 2024, Morton played a significant role in guiding rookie Bo Nix to a strong debut season in Denver. Morton’s ability to design play-action-heavy schemes helped Nix improve, much like he did with Derek Carr in 2019. That year, Carr had his best season under Jon Gruden, setting career highs across several categories.
Morton’s track record includes helping quarterbacks like Mark Sanchez at USC, where he guided him to a top-five NFL draft pick, and Matt Barkley, who thrived under Morton’s coaching. Morton also played a key role in turning around the University of San Diego’s offense in 2005, transforming them into an offensive powerhouse. Later, in 2006, as the passing game coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, Morton was instrumental in Drew Brees’ MVP-caliber season, helping revitalize the Saints’ franchise.
Morton’s history of developing quarterbacks and introducing innovative concepts makes him a valuable asset to Detroit’s staff. While Mark Brunell has been an excellent resource for Goff, Morton’s wealth of experience could prove crucial in shaping Hooker’s development into a top-tier backup quarterback.
