By Sunday 
For weeks, one question hung over Detroit’s postseason hangover: who’s calling the shots on offense next year?
On Monday, that answer finally arrived — and it signals a clear recalibration, not a flashy overhaul.
Head coach Dan Campbell has turned to experience, hiring a coordinator who’s seen both ends of the NFL offensive spectrum and lived through the kind of adversity Detroit knows all too well.
A Search Fueled by Instability
Let’s be honest: the Lions’ offense didn’t just stall — it wobbled.
Campbell’s decision to take over play-calling midseason said everything about how uneasy things had become after John Morton’s promotion and eventual dismissal.
Morton, of course, was following a tough act. His predecessor, Ben Johnson, didn’t just leave — he walked straight into a head coaching job with the Chicago Bears and promptly delivered an NFC North title and an 11–6 season.
Replacing that kind of success was always going to be messy. And it was.
Why This Hire Feels Different
According to NFL.com, the new coordinator brings a résumé built on adaptability rather than hype.
He’s coached quarterbacks and tight ends under Kevin Stefanski during stops with the Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns, before spending the last three seasons running the offense in Arizona under Jonathan Gannon.
That Arizona stretch? A true mixed bag.
In 2024, the offense quietly ranked top-eight in EPA per play — efficient, creative, and balanced. By 2025, injuries everywhere (quarterback, running back, offensive line) sent things spiraling to 24th, forcing a pass-heavy approach with backup Jacoby Brissett under center.
Not ideal. But instructive.
What “Recalibration” Really Means
This isn’t Detroit swinging for the fences.
It’s not about reinventing the playbook or chasing the next offensive prodigy. It’s about stabilizing the system, restoring rhythm, and getting back to an identity that fits Campbell’s vision.
After a year of offensive whiplash, recalibration means:
Fewer experiments, more structure
Adjustments based on personnel, not panic
An offense that can survive injuries without losing its soul
The Real Test Starts Now
Hires like this don’t win headlines in January. They get judged in October — when protections break down, when the run game stalls, and when play-callers are forced to adapt on the fly.
Detroit isn’t promising fireworks.
They’re betting on steadiness.
And after the season they just endured, that might be exactly the point.