Things didn’t work out with John Morton and the Detroit Lions during the 2025 NFL season. First, Morton lost play-calling duties about midway through the campaign. Then following the season, the Lions parted ways with the offensive coordinator.
In a way, though, it will be no harm, no foul for Morton.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Sunday that Morton will rejoin the Denver Broncos in the same role he previously had.
“The Broncos are expected to hire former Lions OC John Morton as pass-game coordinator per sources,” wrote Fowler.
“Morton resumes the role he had for Denver from 2023-24. He was also a consultant for the team during the playoffs.”
This will be the second time this decade the Broncos hired Morton after he had a one-year stint with the Lions.
Broncos Planning to Bring Back Offensive Assistant John Morton
With his return to Denver, Morton appears to be going back and forth between working for Lions head coach Dan Campbell and Broncos head coach Sean Payton.
All three coaches previously worked together on the New Orleans Saints staff from 2015-16 when Payton was head coach.
Morton has experienced a long career as an NFL offensive assistant. It began in 1998 with the then Oakland Raiders.
Morton’s first offensive coordinator opportunity came with the New York Jets in 2017. Just like this past year with the Lions, Morton was Jets OC for just one season.
Under Morton, the Lions were fourth in points scored and fifth in yards during 2025. While the unit was top 10 in those two categories, those rankings were a step back from No. 1 in points and second in yards during the 2024 campaign.
Morton lost his play-calling duties in the Lions offense during Week 10. The Lions didn’t win back-to-back games after the start of October last season.
Morton’s Past Experience With Broncos’ Sean Payton
As previously mentioned, Morton served as Broncos pass game coordinator from 2023-24. That made Morton’s transition back to Denver unexpected.
But actually, Morton had already made a return of sorts to the Broncos. After the Lions parted ways with the offensive assistant following the season, Morton joined the Denver coaching staff as an offensive consultant during the postseason.
The Broncos defeated the Buffalo Bills in overtime of the AFC divisional round. But without starting quarterback Bo Nix in the AFC championship, the Broncos lost to the New England Patriots at home 10-7.
Denver finished the 2025 regular season 10th in yards and 14th in points scored. The offense was also 11th in passing yards and 16th in passing touchdowns.
Morton will work with Nix after he recovers from his fractured right ankle. In the 2025 regular season, Nix completed 63.4% of his passes for 3,931 passing yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
But he led all quarterbacks with 612 attempts. Nix averaged 6.4 yards per pass.
The Lions hired Drew Petzing to replace Morton as offensive coordinator. Petzing served as the Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator from 2023-25.
Petzing’s Cardinals were seventh in passing yards during 2025 but they led the league in pass attempts. Overall, the Arizona offense was 19th in points and 23rd in points scored.
Lions Ex-OC John Morton Lands Next NFL Gig: Report