The Detroit Lions are tabbing Broncos passing game coordinator John Morton as their new offensive coordinator.

(CBS DETROIT) - The Detroit Lions have hired Denver Broncos passing game assistant John Morton as their new offensive coordinator. The Michigan native, who previously worked with the Lions and head coach Dan Campbell in 2022, will replace Ben Johnson, who was tapped for the head coaching position in Chicago .

Morton worked for Campbell in 2022 with the Lions and helped the Broncos offense improve the past two years under Payton.

The Detroit Lions have agreed to hire Denver Broncos assistant John Morton as offensive coordinator and promote Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is off to Chicago to lead the Bears. Former defensive Aaron Glenn is now the head coach of the New York Jets. Both will be missed in Detroit, but Campbell and company must move forward with the assistants remaining. That process has already begun.

The Detroit Lions announced today the hiring of John Morton as offensive coordinator and the promotion of Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator.

Shaw and Morton go back to their days as offensive coaches for the Raiders under Jon Gruden in the late 90’s. They followed similar paths from there.

The Detroit Lions have agreed to hire Denver Broncos assistant John Morton as offensive coordinator and promote Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator.

The long-reported hirings for the coordinator vacancies in Detroit are now official. On Thursday, the Lions organization hired Kelvin Sheppard as the new defensive coordinator and John Morton as the offensive coordinator. Both moves have been known for some time, but the press release from the Lions indicates that the moves are now finalized.

David Shaw coached Stanford to two Rose Bowl wins, and now joins Detroit Lions remade offensive coaching staff under Dan Campbell for 2025 season.