The Detroit Lions, who dominated the regular season with the highest-scoring offense in the NFL, were unable to carry that momentum into the playoffs, as they lost 45-31 to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round. Despite a strong offensive showing, quarterback Jared Goff struggled with turnovers, throwing three interceptions.
Following that loss, the Lions’ coaching staff began to lose key personnel, with the most notable departure being offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who was hired as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. Johnson, widely regarded as one of the league’s top assistants, played a crucial role in the Lions’ success this season.
Now, the Lions are looking to fill the offensive coordinator position, and Broncos passing game coordinator John Morton has emerged as a top candidate. Morton has been instrumental in the Broncos’ offensive success this season, helping rookie quarterback Bo Nix lead the team to an AFC playoff berth. The Broncos finished 10th in the NFL in scoring, averaging 27.1 points per game, with Nix throwing for over 3,700 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Morton, who has a long coaching history with several teams, including the Packers, Raiders, Jaguars, Chargers, 49ers, Saints, Jets, and Lions, was previously the Jets’ offensive coordinator in 2017. Although his tenure with the Jets ended after just one season, he has earned recognition for his work with the Broncos’ passing attack this year.
