Who is Lions' offensive coordinator? How Detroit is replacing Ben Johnson's playcalling

Billy Heyen

Who is Lions' offensive coordinator? How Detroit is replacing Ben Johnson's playcalling image

The Detroit Lions had an incredibly explosive offense last season. Calling the plays was offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, and he helped all the pieces work together seamlessly.

This season, Johnson is in Chicago. He's the Bears' new head coach.

The hope in the Windy City, of course, is that Johnson brings his offensive acumen there to allow Caleb Williams and company to break out in a big way.

The Lions and Bears will get to face off in Week 2 and get a good look at one another.

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Back in Detroit, there's already worry about missing Johnson, because Week 1 was ugly.

One man is trying to fill some big shoes.

Who is the Lions' offensive coordinator?

The Lions' new offensive coordinator is John Morton.

He was hired in January to replace Johnson.

Morton had previously worked in Detroit as the Lions' senior offensive assistant in 2022.

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In 2023 and 2024, Morton was the passing game coordinator for the Broncos. He got credit for the fast start of rookie QB Bo Nix last season.

Morton's football career was as a wide receiver, first at Western Michigan and then in the CFL. He made it onto two NFL practice squads but never into a game.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle