By Moses Joshua 
As Detroit turns the page on its offense, the former coordinator may quietly take familiar faces with him — and it could sting more than fans expect.
The Lions didn’t waste much time making their decision on John Morton. Once Dan Campbell took over play-calling duties in mid-November, the writing was already on the wall, and Tuesday’s firing simply made it official.
Morton’s year in Detroit was uneven, but it wasn’t barren. The Lions still finished third in the league in passing yards and fifth in total points, numbers that suggest he won’t be waiting long for another opportunity somewhere else. And when he does land on his feet, he could come knocking on the door of several familiar faces from Detroit.
Here are three Lions who could realistically follow Morton out the door.
Kalif Raymond: The Trusted Utility Weapon
For the past two seasons, Kalif Raymond has quietly faded into the background of Detroit’s explosive offense. With Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs and rookie Isaac TeSlaa commanding the spotlight, Raymond’s role shrank to the margins.
Still, he made the most of limited chances. Raymond finished the year with 24 receptions for 289 yards and a touchdown, but his real value remained on special teams, where he once again proved dangerous as a punt returner — including one taken to the house.
At 32, Raymond isn’t part of Detroit’s youth movement anymore, and with the receiver room only getting deeper, his future in Detroit feels uncertain. But to a coach like Morton, who already understands how to use him, Raymond is the type of savvy, dependable veteran who fits anywhere.
A fresh system could mean fresh opportunity — and more snaps than he’s likely to see in Motown.
Shane Zylstra: The Quiet Grinder at Tight End
Shane Zylstra has never been the flashy name in the Lions’ tight end room. Overshadowed by Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright, he spent most of his five-year Detroit tenure waiting for opportunities that rarely came.
When injuries finally forced him into the lineup late in the season, Zylstra didn’t pile up stats — three catches for 20 yards over four games won’t move the needle — but he showed exactly why coaches keep him around. His blocking was steady, reliable and physical, the kind of under-the-radar work that makes offenses function.
In today’s NFL, tight ends are expected to be weapons, but blocking still wins games in December. Morton knows that. And if he lands somewhere that values grit over glamour, Zylstra could find himself with a clearer path to real playing time than he ever had in Detroit.
Kayode Awosika: The Depth Piece You Don’t Want to Lose
Injuries up front forced Detroit to dig deep this season, and Kayode Awosika was one of the names that surfaced when the Lions needed help. Thrust into four starts at left guard, he wasn’t spectacular — but he wasn’t a liability either.
Pro Football Focus graded him at 57.9, solid for a player who was never meant to be more than depth. He also showed positional flexibility, logging snaps at both guard spots and even filling in at right tackle.
That versatility is gold for a coach building a roster on the fly.
Morton could see Awosika as exactly what every offense needs: a low-cost, plug-and-play lineman who can survive in multiple roles. And for Awosika, a reunion might come with something Detroit can’t promise — a legitimate chance to compete for a starting job.
Detroit is moving on, but transitions rarely happen in isolation. If John Morton resurfaces as an offensive coordinator elsewhere, don’t be surprised if a few familiar Lions names appear on his new depth chart — quietly reminding Detroit just how thin the margins can be in the NFL.