When Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell talked about who would replace Ben Johnson as offensive coordinator, he made it clear he wanted Jared Goff's input into the hire to try to replicate the close relationship Goff had with Johnson.
The hiring of John Morton as the new offensive coordinator seemed to fit the bill for the continuity Campbell wanted to have, since he was on the Lions' coaching staff in 2022. And it's fair to assume he would not have been hired without a full stamp of approval from Goff.
There is some natural concern about the offensive coordinator change in regard to a possible drop-off for Goff. While that may happen, it won't be because Morton didn't make every effort to cater the Lions' offense to the quarterback, just like Johnson did.
John Morton will continue the vision for the Lions' offense, Jared Goff
In an interview with Dan Miller of Fox2, Morton was asked how big it is that a lot of the unknowns that come with being a new coordinator are not there with his return to the Lions.
"I think it’s big with the quarterback,” Morton said. “Kinda knowing him and when I was here, I was in the quarterback room. I have a feel of what he likes, what he doesn’t. That’s important as a play caller. We’ll continue here when the players come back and stuff, so I’ll get to know more about him and the plays that he really likes a lot and what they’ve been doing good here.”
Morton made it clear the Lions' offense will be "predicated on the quarterback" like it was with Johnson. He obviously won't be deviating from a core philosophy that been so successful the last few seasons, as he takes over the No. 1 scoring offense in the NFL, but there will be ways he'll try to put his spin on things.
"They've already established a philosophy here," Morton said. "It's just my job to continue the vision of how (coach) Dan (Campbell) wants things. We'll tinker with things here and there, and we'll see how we can make it better."
Morton is walking into as good a situation as a new offensive coordinator could, and it seems he knows it.