By Blessing 
3 Lions Players Who Could Thrive Under John Morton’s Leadership as Offensive Coordinator
The Detroit Lions faced the inevitable departure of their highly regarded offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who accepted the head coaching role with the Chicago Bears. To fill the void, the Lions turned to John Morton, who recently served as the Denver Broncos’ passing game coordinator. His extensive coaching background, which dates back to 1998, includes working alongside respected offensive minds like Sean Payton, Jon Gruden, and Jim Harbaugh — coaches who valued his expertise enough to hire him multiple times.
Though Morton only has one full season as a play caller under his belt (with the New York Jets in 2017), it’s important not to judge his offensive acumen based on that experience alone, given the limited talent he had to work with. Head coach Dan Campbell recognizes Morton’s value, highlighting the influential role he played as a senior assistant with the Lions in 2022.
“John Morton, man, Johnny’s a superstar now,” Campbell praised. “There’s a number of things that he did for us last year that are things that we’ve kept.”
With Johnson’s departure, Morton inherits one of the NFL’s most potent offenses. While he’ll aim to maintain the system’s success, Morton is expected to introduce subtle changes based on his own coaching philosophy. With that in mind, here are three Lions players who stand to benefit the most from Morton’s leadership as offensive coordinator.
3. WR Jameson Williams
Jameson Williams had a breakout season last year, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards and showing notable improvements as a well-rounded receiver. One key to Williams’ continued success lies in how Morton might reignite the Lions’ vertical passing game.
Quarterback Jared Goff has thrived as a play-action passer, particularly when targeting deep routes. Back in 2022, the Lions led the league in Expected Points Added (EPA) per dropback on play-action vertical routes (1.31), averaging 19.2 yards per attempt and achieving a league-best 69.6 percent success rate. Players like Kalif Raymond and DJ Chark were key contributors, with Raymond leading the league by averaging 33.8 yards per target on these plays.
However, those impressive numbers have declined over the past two seasons, dropping to an EPA of 0.84 in 2023 and 0.75 this past year. With Williams emerging as a star receiver, Morton has the opportunity to reignite the Lions’ deep passing game, unlocking Williams’ full potential.
2. QB Jared Goff
Since the latter part of the 2021 season, Jared Goff has regained his form as a top-tier quarterback. Campbell and Johnson have both credited Morton for his contributions to Goff’s resurgence.
“Yeah, well look I would say he’s more comfortable at this time than he was last year,” Campbell said in July 2022. “A lot of that has to do with what we’ve done offensively…bringing in John Morton has been really good for us, who was at Vegas. But also, we’re doing a number of things that [Goff] did well at LA.”
Johnson also highlighted Morton’s role in Goff’s development:
“I am really proud of how he’s taken the coaching this year from Mark Brunell, from John Morton, from J.T. Barrett, myself, and he’s taken any criticism we’ve had about his game, and he’s worked to improve those,” Johnson shared in January 2023.
Although Goff had a strong connection with Johnson, there’s no reason to believe he can’t thrive under Morton’s guidance. Given their prior working relationship, they won’t be starting from scratch, which should help Goff maintain his upward trajectory.
1. RB Jahmyr Gibbs
After a fantastic rookie campaign in 2023, Jahmyr Gibbs elevated his game this past season, amassing 1,929 yards from scrimmage and scoring 20 total touchdowns. While his explosiveness in the passing game improved (9.9 yards per reception), his reception total remained the same as his rookie year (52), suggesting there’s still untapped potential.
Morton’s expertise could be crucial in maximizing Gibbs’ skills in the screen game. In 2022, the Lions were among the league’s best at executing screens, averaging 7.0 yards per attempt (second) and generating a 0.39 EPA per dropback (second). These plays provided Goff with easy outlets, reducing his burden and helping him rebuild confidence.
However, the Lions’ efficiency in the screen game dipped over the last two seasons. In 2023, they averaged just 5.4 yards per attempt (12th) with a 0.03 EPA per dropback (13th) and a 45.5 percent success rate (sixth). While those numbers rebounded somewhat this past season, they still didn’t match their 2022 efficiency.
Gibbs ranked fifth among running backs in yards after catch per reception this season (10.6), according to Sports Info Solutions (minimum 20 targets). His other receiving metrics were strong, indicating significant growth in Year 2. With Morton at the helm, Gibbs could reach an even higher level as a versatile offensive weapon, particularly in the screen game.
Final Thoughts
John Morton has a track record of positively impacting offenses and individual players. His familiarity with the Lions’ system and existing relationships with key players position him well for success. As the Lions transition to this new chapter, Williams, Goff, and Gibbs are three players who could truly thrive under Morton’s leadership, potentially taking their performances to new heights.