The Detroit Lions have reached agreements to hire John Morton, who was previously an assistant with the Denver Broncos, as their new offensive coordinator. Additionally, they will be promoting Kelvin Sheppard to the role of defensive coordinator, as reported by a source with knowledge of the situation.
The source preferred to remain anonymous due to the fact that the official announcements regarding these changes had not been made publicly at the time. Detroit’s coaching staff has undergone significant changes recently, with both the former offensive coordinator, Ben Johnson, and defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn, departing to take head coaching positions. Johnson has joined the Chicago Bears, while Glenn is set to lead the New York Jets. These changes occurred just days after the Lions were unexpectedly eliminated from the NFC playoffs by the Washington Commanders in the divisional round.
Both Johnson and Glenn have been recognized as finalists for the Associated Press NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award. Dan Campbell, who is also a finalist for Coach of the Year, mentioned that he had anticipated the departures of both coordinators even before their appointments elsewhere.
In a recent statement, Campbell indicated that quarterback Jared Goff would have input in the selection of the new offensive coordinator. He expressed confidence that Goff would continue to thrive, even without Johnson calling plays. “This setup is designed for Goff to excel with our offensive playmakers,” Campbell stated last week.
Morton is no stranger to Goff, having previously served as a senior offensive assistant for the Lions in 2022. Campbell emphasized the importance of maintaining the existing terminology to ensure that Goff remains comfortable, especially as he has been performing at a high level.
Sheppard is well-known among the Lions’ players, having spent the past three seasons as the team’s linebackers coach after coaching outside linebackers in 2021. A native of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Sheppard was drafted in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills after a successful college career at LSU. He wrapped up his playing career with 429 tackles over 107 games.
Campbell played a pivotal role in Sheppard’s transition to coaching, having given him his start in the profession after he served as LSU’s director of player development in 2020. Morton, who initially joined the Broncos from Detroit in 2023, has been the passing game coordinator in Denver for the past two seasons. He brings over twenty years of coaching experience from various teams, including Denver, Detroit, Las Vegas, the New York Jets, New Orleans, and San Francisco.
A product of the Detroit suburbs, Morton was an accomplished wide receiver at Western Michigan, where he earned All-Mid American Conference honors. The new changes in the coaching staff reflect the Lions’ commitment to building a competitive team moving forward.
