With the exits of Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn—now head coaches with the Bears and Jets—the Detroit Lions are turning a new page on both sides of the ball, appointing John Morton to lead the offense and Kelvin Sheppard to run the defense.
The question on many minds is whether Detroit can maintain its momentum after back-to-back division titles without the influential duo that helped reshape the franchise’s identity. Johnson and Glenn were instrumental in reviving a struggling team and building a contender.
Still, the Lions didn’t hand the reins to rookies. Morton brings experience from his recent role with Denver as passing game coordinator and was also part of Detroit’s staff in 2022 as a senior offensive assistant under Johnson. Sheppard, meanwhile, has been embedded in Detroit’s defense for four years as linebackers coach, and his NFL playing background from 2011 to 2018 gives him valuable insight.
Speaking to Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein, star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown dismissed concerns about the staff change: “Let’s not pretend we hired amateurs. These guys understand football—plain and simple.”
The Lions’ roster remains one of the league’s most dynamic, especially on offense, but it’s fair for fans to wonder whether the play-calling and schemes will remain at the same elite level. That’s more a reflection of how exceptional Johnson and Glenn were than a criticism of their successors.
Under Johnson’s direction, Detroit’s offense consistently ranked among the league’s best, known for its innovation and explosiveness. On the other hand, Glenn earned praise for steadily improving a defense that had long been a weak point.
If Morton and Sheppard can build on the systems laid down by their predecessors and adapt the same winning principles, there’s every reason to believe the Lions will continue trending upward.
