By Moses Joshua 
With John Morton on the brink, Detroit may look inside Ben Johnson’s Chicago tree for its next play-caller.
The Detroit Lions didn’t just miss the playoffs in 2025 — they exposed cracks in an offense that once felt untouchable. Now, as the offseason begins in earnest, one position sits squarely under the microscope: offensive coordinator.
John Morton was hired last winter to replace Ben Johnson, who left Detroit for the Chicago Bears’ head-coaching job. It was supposed to be a seamless transition. Instead, it became one of the defining failures of the season.
By midyear, Morton had lost play-calling duties, with Dan Campbell stepping in as the Lions tried to rescue a spiraling attack. The move didn’t spark the turnaround Detroit hoped for, and now, according to a growing league buzz, the Lions are preparing to hit reset.
Morton’s Fall and a Front Office at the Crossroads
Morton’s first season was rocky from the opening month. Miscommunications, stalled red-zone drives, and a running game that never found rhythm eventually forced Campbell’s hand.
With the Lions missing the postseason entirely, the idea of bringing Morton back feels less like patience and more like denial.
CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones poured gasoline on the speculation when he reported that the Lions are already preparing to shop for a new offensive mind.
“League sources believe Dan Campbell will be in the market for a new offensive coordinator this year, and perhaps he pulls from Johnson’s staff one year after Johnson took flight from Detroit.”
That last part is what has the NFC North buzzing.
Looking South: Could Detroit Poach From Chicago?
The most obvious name is Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, but that trail goes cold quickly. Doyle doesn’t call plays — Ben Johnson does — and Chicago has the power to block any lateral interview. If Detroit called, the Bears could simply say no.
And let’s be honest: they would.
Where the rumor gains traction is in the assistants who can’t be blocked.
Quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett, wide receivers coach and assistant head coach Antwaan Randle El, and running backs coach Eric Bieniemy are all legitimate possibilities — and all three have Detroit DNA.
Randle El coached Detroit’s wideouts from 2021-24 before joining Johnson in Chicago. Barrett was with the Lions in 2022 and served as assistant quarterbacks coach through 2024. The Lions know them. They trust them. And in a moment where the offense needs cultural alignment as much as schematic overhaul, familiarity matters.
The Bieniemy Wild Card
Still, experience is king, and that’s where Bieniemy stands apart.
He has called plays in Kansas City, Washington, and even in college at Colorado. While Randle El and Barrett are respected rising coaches, Bieniemy is the only candidate with a true coordinator résumé.
That might be exactly what Campbell wants — not another project, but a proven voice who can command the room on Day 1.
A Franchise Searching for Its Identity Again
Detroit once felt ahead of the curve, an offensive juggernaut built on precision and confidence. Twelve months later, that identity is gone.
Whether it’s Randle El returning home, Barrett stepping up, or Bieniemy bringing his edge to Detroit, one thing is clear: the Lions are preparing for a dramatic offensive reset.
And if it comes from Ben Johnson’s own backyard, the rivalry with Chicago may just get a lot more personal.