Ben Johnson may be in Chicago now, but his fingerprints are still all over the Detroit Lions’ offense.
Johnson, who left in January to become the Bears’ new head coach, helped architect one of the NFL’s most dangerous units. Now with John Morton stepping in as offensive coordinator, the Lions aren’t looking to reinvent the wheel — in fact, they’re sticking with what works.
“I’m not changing much. I mean, why?” Morton told reporters on Tuesday, making it clear the team will keep Johnson’s offensive foundation mostly intact. Morton plans to introduce a few new concepts from his own playbook, but the core scheme remains the same.
And that’s good news for a Lions offense that ranked second in total yards, second in passing, sixth in rushing, and first in points per game last season. With playmakers like Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta returning, there’s every reason to believe Detroit can stay explosive in 2025.
Morton’s decision to stay the course helps maintain chemistry, minimizes learning curves, and signals that the Lions believe their Super Bowl window is wide open — with or without Johnson on the headset.
Detroit’s message is clear: the system works, the talent is elite, and the expectations haven’t changed. This offense isn’t rebuilding. It’s reloading.
Ben Johnson’s Influence Still Shaping Lions Offense Under New OC John Morton
