The Lions announced today that they have parted ways with offensive coordinator John Morton.<\/p>\n
\u2014 Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The Detroit Lions<\/a> have fired offensive coordinator John Morton after just one season in the role.<\/p>\n The Athletic’s Dianna Russini was the first to report the news of Morton’s firing. The Lions<\/a> confirmed the report on Tuesday afternoon, announcing that it had parted ways with the offensive coordinator.<\/p>\n Morton joined the Lions ahead of the 2025 season and followed Ben Johnson, who departed Detroit to take over as Chicago Bears<\/a> head coach.<\/p>\n Morton spent eight games\u2014less than half the season\u2014as the Lions’ offensive play-caller in 2025. After its 27-24 home loss on Nov. 2 to NFC North division rival Minnesota<\/a>, Lions head coach Dan Campbell took over as Detroit’s offensive play-caller.<\/p>\n Morton’s future status with the franchise was in limbo from that point forward, and Tuesday’s firing seemed like an inevitability.<\/p>\n When Morton was relieved of his duties as the Lions’ offensive play-caller midway through the season, Detroit was third in points per game (29.9) and eighth in total offense (350.8 yards per game). Detroit was averaging 225.6 passing yards and 125.1 rushing yards per game with Morton calling plays. The Lions started 5-3 with Morton as its offensive play-caller.<\/p>\n In Campbell’s first game assuming the offensive play-calling responsibilities, the Lions erupted for 44 points and 546 yards of total offense (320 passing, 226 rushing) in a dominant win over the Washington Commanders<\/a>.<\/p>\n But, though Detroit finished the season as the NFL’s No. 5 total offense (373.2 yards per game) and No. 5 scoring offense (28.3 points per game), the Lions faltered offensively in key moments and finished the season 4-5 in the nine games with Campbell calling plays. Detroit ended with a 9-8 overall record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2022.<\/p>\n With Campbell as its offensive play-caller, the Lions averaged\u00a026.9 points, 393.1 yards of total offense, 277.5 passing yards and 115.6 rushing yards per game in the final nine games.<\/p>\n The Lions faced just two playoff teams\u2014the Packers<\/a> and Bears<\/a>\u2014in Morton’s eight games as the offensive play-caller and went 1-1 in those games. During Campbell’s stint calling plays to close the season, Detroit faced five playoff teams and went 1-4 in those contests (at Philadelphia<\/a>, versus Green Bay, at the Los Angeles Rams<\/a>, versus Pittsburgh<\/a> and at Chicago).<\/p>\n Before taking over as Ben Johnson’s successor as the Lions’ OC for the 2025 NFL season, Morton spent two seasons with the Denver Broncos<\/a> where he served as the passing game coordinator and assisted in the development of Broncos<\/a> quarterback Bo Nix.<\/p>\n Morton’s first stint in Detroit came as the senior offensive assistant in 2022. The Lions ranked fourth in total yards (380.0 yards per game) and fifth in scoring offense (26.6) during that 2022 campaign.<\/p>\n Morton said in the season’s final week that he would be interested in staying with the Lions in 2026<\/a>, even in a capacity that didn’t include play-calling.<\/p>\n “Listen, I told you guys before, I\u2019m a team player, man. I\u2019ll do whatever it takes at this point in my career. Whatever Dan wants, I\u2019ll do. So I\u2019m here to help him and help this team win and that\u2019s what I\u2019ve done. I\u2019m proud of some of the work that I\u2019ve done, obviously, so that\u2019s kind of where I\u2019m at with that,” Morton said.<\/p>\n On Monday, Campbell said sorting out the future of his coaching staff was priority No. 1 to begin the Lions’ offseason<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Well, the first thing I’ve got to figure out is the staff. I need to make sure that, you know, where do we go from here? I just need to either make sure that I feel good about where the guys are at, the positions they’re in, or do we tweak a couple of things, move a couple of guys? Do we stay pat? Those are the things I’ve got to sort through. That’s what I’ve got to get through. I’ve got to do some digging here,” Campbell said.<\/p>\n For more\u00a0Lions<\/a>\u00a0coverage, follow us on X,\u00a0@TheLionsWire<\/a>, and give our\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0page a like.<\/p>\n