John Morton was technically an external hire as replaces Ben Johnson as Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator, but he's not far from an internal hire. He was on the coaching staff in 2022, so he knows many of the players and coaches that are still in place now.
On Tuesday at the NFL Combine, head coach Dan Campbell talked about the fit Morton is as he takes on the task of keeping one of the league's best offenses rolling.
"When we put this thing together, he was a part of this", Campbell said. I felt like that was the best move for us, was to get him back here. (He’s) somebody that I have a lot of trust in (and) faith in. Goff knows (him and is) comfortable with. He’s got a good rapport with Hank (Fraley, and) Bru (Mark Brunell), and then adding the additions that we have with David Shaw — those two go way back, he and John Morton, which was big for us.”
Over more than two decades as a coach, Morton has frequently been an "idea guy" for coaches like Jon Gruden, Sean Payton, Jim Harbaugh and Johnson. He has rarely been a play caller, but this will not be his first go-round as an NFL play caller.
Morton spent one season as the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets in 2017. The group of players he had to work with was not ideal, and the results showed it. Add in philosophical differences with head coach Todd Bowles, who was cycling through offensive coordinators in the last years of his tenure, and it just didn't work out.
John Morton is ready for his second chance as an NFL play caller
During a recent interview with Dan Miller of Fox 2, Mortin called the situation with the Jets "tough" in multiple ways, including coaches he didn't know but had to retain under him on the offensive staff. The situation he's coming into, or back to, in Detroit is obviously not that way. Morton had a hand in the hiring of new coaches, to go with the ones he knows who remain in place, and everyone is aligned.
Morton spoke to Lions' reporters on Tuesday in Indianapolis at the NFL Combine. He compared his situation with the Jets to trying to prepare your favorite meal without the most reliable ingredients. He more broadly said he just wasn't ready for the offensive coordinator role the first time around in the NFL.
“I wasn’t ready back then, and it was a tough situation," Morton said, via Will Burchfield of 97.1 The Ticket. "Listen, we didn’t win enough games. Bottom line, it's all about wins. This situation is going to be an easier transition for me. I’ve been around the quarterback position now, I understand that. I know the players. A lot of the coaches know me. A lot of the players are going to know me. I’ve been preparing that if I get another chance, I’ll be ready. Ever since that opportunity, I just learned from that and I (moved) on. I don’t hold grudges against anybody or nothing."
Morton is getting a second chance as an NFL offensive coordinator and play caller, back in his home state in a situation that couldn't be more ideal. He summed up how he feels about it rather nicely.
"I'm like a kid in the candy store. I mean, it's Christmas all over again," Morton said.
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