The Detroit Lions have found Ben Johnson’s successor.
The team has appointed John Morton, the Broncos’ passing game coordinator, as their new offensive coordinator, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday, citing sources.
Morton, 55, previously worked as the Lions’ senior offensive assistant in 2022, which means he is already familiar with head coach Dan Campbell and the Detroit offense.
However, he faces a significant challenge in replacing Johnson and maintaining the team’s high-powered offense.
Johnson, who was hired as the Bears’ head coach on January 21, leaves behind an offense that ranked in the top five for points and yards during his three seasons as offensive coordinator. In 2024, Detroit had the No. 1 scoring offense and the No. 2 unit in total yards.
Despite the difficult task ahead, Morton will inherit a wealth of talent, including offensive tackle Penei Sewell, running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, and quarterback Jared Goff.
Morton returns to Detroit with extensive experience.
He began his NFL career with the Oakland Raiders in 2002 as an offensive assistant. He later worked in the same role with the New Orleans Saints under Sean Payton, spent four years as USC’s offensive coordinator, and served as a wide receivers coach for both the San Francisco 49ers and Saints. In 2017, he became the New York Jets’ offensive coordinator and later rejoined the Raiders as a senior offensive assistant. After his time with Campbell in 2022, Morton spent the last two years with Payton and the Broncos.
After a surprising Divisional Round loss to the Washington Commanders, Campbell and the Lions lost both their coordinators—Johnson to the Bears and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets.
However, the Lions moved quickly to promote Kelvin Sheppard to DC and hire Morton as their new offensive coordinator.
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How many draft selections do the Detroit Lions hold in 2025?
The Detroit Lions now have seven picks in the 2025 NFL draft, thanks to a relatively new rule in the league.
On January 22, the Lions received a compensatory third-round pick after Aaron Glenn was hired as the New York Jets’ head coach.
Under the revised NFL Rooney Rule in 2020, teams that lose a minority assistant coach to a head coaching position with another franchise are awarded two compensatory draft picks at the end of the third round, following other compensatory selections, and in consecutive years.
For developing Glenn, who served as the defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2024, the Lions will receive additional third-round picks in the upcoming drafts, with the exact slot to be determined later this spring.
Here’s a breakdown of the Lions’ picks for the 2025 draft, which will take place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, from April 24-26.
Lions Draft Picks for 2025 The Lions are currently set to pick 28th in each round of the 2025 NFL draft. Below are the seven picks they own:
- First round: No. 28 overall
- Second round: No. 60 overall
- Third round: Projected No. 101 overall
- Fourth round: TBD
- Sixth round (from Buccaneers): TBD — acquired in the Carlton Davis III trade
- Seventh round (from Cowboys): TBD — received in the 2024 trade for Terrion Arnold
- Seventh round: TBD
*The Lions received a compensatory pick due to Aaron Glenn being hired as the Jets’ head coach.
The Lions currently lack a third-round pick, as it was traded to the Jets in 2024 in exchange for the Gio Manu draft pick.
The Lions sent their fifth-round pick to the Browns in the Za’Darius Smith trade before the 2024 trade deadline.
The Lions also traded their sixth-round pick to the Browns as part of the Donovan Peoples-Jones trade before the 2023 deadline.
