By Blessing 
Amon-Ra St. Brown Locked In: How John Morton Is Fueling His Next-Level Ambition
Amon-Ra St. Brown has already built an impressive résumé early in his NFL career—three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro selections make that clear. But if you think he’s coasting on past success, think again. The Detroit Lions receiver isn’t wired to settle for “just good.” For him, excellence must be the standard—and the arrival of new offensive coordinator John Morton may be the spark that takes his game to even greater heights.
Detroit’s offseason brought some uncertainty after former OC Ben Johnson departed for the Chicago Bears. In his place, the Lions tapped John Morton, a coach with a solid reputation but limited success in leading an offense on his own. Naturally, there were questions about what his addition might mean for a young, ascending offense.
But for St. Brown, Morton has already made a difference—not by design, perhaps, but through disruption.
During OTAs, St. Brown spoke candidly about how Morton’s new system has essentially reset his mindset.
“Definitely woken me up, having to learn new plays (and) new formations,” St. Brown admitted. “I was so used to the same plays I didn’t have to look. I knew what I had to do without looking. Now, I’ve actually got to study up. Study some plays. I can’t be messing up out there. That’s the last thing I want to do.”
This shift in routine has jolted him out of his comfort zone, a place that even elite athletes can find themselves in when they’ve mastered a system. With Morton changing the playbook and the terminology, St. Brown is suddenly back in student mode—laser-focused and more mentally engaged than ever.
He added, “I think it’s good for the offense. It’s good for the guys (and) coaches too. They got to be on their toes because it’s different formations. We’ve all got to lock in, but I think it’s going to help us.”
This new version of St. Brown—re-energized, sharper, and dialed-in—is a dangerous one for opposing defenses. The challenge of adapting has rekindled his drive and could very well prevent the stagnation that sometimes creeps in for players who feel too comfortable.
Despite already being one of the NFL’s most productive receivers, St. Brown sees Morton’s fresh approach as a positive shift for the entire unit.
“He’s been awesome. He’s been very receptive. We’ve been receptive of him,” he shared. “Just being able to have a new face, have a new voice, (a) new way of teaching—it’s good for us. I think we’ve been so accustomed to certain things for so long that you kind of get used to it, and then when something new happens, you’re like, ‘Oh.’ It kind of wakes you up and gets you ready. So I think he’s done that for our offense.”
St. Brown has already totaled 4,851 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns across four seasons. That’s impressive by any measure—but there’s still one milestone he hasn’t touched: the elusive 2,000-yard season. With Morton’s offense potentially shifting more focus onto his talents and creating new wrinkles for defenses to deal with, it’s not out of the question.
The beauty of Morton’s influence might not lie in flashy new schemes or dramatic overhauls—but in the way his arrival has reignited the hunger of a star who refuses to plateau. If this refreshed mindset sticks, 2025 could be the season where Amon-Ra St. Brown takes the leap from star to unstoppable force.
And if that happens, fans—and the NFL—might look back at Morton’s hire as one of the quietest but most important moves of the Lions’ offseason.