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Detroit Lions lose assistant coach to the Denver Broncos

By Brad Berreman

Nov 12, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Jets offensive coordinator John Morton bumps fists with offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum (68) and offensive tackle Brandon Shell (72) prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Jets offensive coordinator John Morton bumps fists with offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum (68) and offensive tackle Brandon Shell (72) prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Lions have lost a third assistant coach to a new job this offseason, with John Morton joining Sean Payton’s Denver Broncos staff.

The Detroit Lions lost running backs coach Duce Staley and defensive line coach Todd Wash to the Carolina Panthers in recent weeks. Now a third assistant coach is gone, as John Morton has been announced as a member of the Denver Broncos new coaching staff under Sean Payton.

Morton spent the 2022 season as a senior offensive assistant for the Lions, with his experience certainly helpful to first-time offensive coordinator Ben Johnson behind the scenes.

Before that lone season with the Lions, Morton spent three seasons (2019-2021) in a similar post with the Raiders. He was the New York Jets offensive coordinator in 2017. He has been an assistant on the offensive side of the ball going back to 1998, mostly in the NFL with the Raiders (the first time), Chargers, 49ers and Saints as well. He also spent four seasons at USC (2007-2010), with the last two years of that time as the Trojans’ offensive coordinator.

Morton will be the Broncos’ passing game coordinator. In a unique twist, former Lions offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi is the new offensive coordinator in Denver after being fired as Chargers’ offensive coordinator.

John Morton is latest Detroit Lions assistant to leave

Like Lombardi, though not as lengthy, Morton has a past Saints’ tie to Payton. He was the Saints’ passing came coordinator in 2006, then he came back as wide receivers coach for two years (2015-2016) during Payton’s lengthy tenure as the head coach in New Orleans.

Coaching staff turnover is common in the NFL, even if coaches being wanted so much by other teams is a new concept attached to the Lions. On the addition side, thus far, Steve Heiden is the Lions’ new tight ends coach, Scottie Montgomery will replace Staley as assistant head coach/running backs coach and former Lions cornerback Dre Bly has been brought in as the team’s new cornerbacks coach.

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