Even as the Detroit Lions are offseason, things are still moving quickly. Actually, after the season concluded, things have not been better but only gotten worse.
The anticipated departures of offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets caused a major upheaval for the organization.
Interviews have been held by Dan Campbell and his group to find qualified candidates for two crucial coaching positions.
Detroit Lions confirms major coaching changes.
The new offensive and defensive coordinators were formally presented by the Lions on Thursday, January 20.
The team shared a tweet stating, “The Detroit Lions officially announced today the promotion of Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator and the hiring of John Morton as offensive coordinators”
Since Morton and Sheppard had both been seen as front-runners, these actions were not shocking. They will have the possibility to influence the Lions’ draft approach now that their responsibilities are set. Early positional security provides the squad with stability and a clear path forward.
The New Coordinators: Who Are They?
The Attack Is Taken Over by John Morton
Morton brings a plethora of expertise to his new position after serving as the senior offensive assistant for the Lions in 2022. He experienced two seasons as the Denver Broncos’ passing game coordinator after his last stint with Detroit, when he was instrumental in the growth of quarterback Bo Nix.
The Lions claim that during the 2024 season, Nix, under Morton’s direction, set NFL records for the second-most throwing touchdowns (29), third-most completions (376), and eighth-most passing yards (3,775) by a rookie.
Morton has worked for a number of clubs, including the New York Jets as an offensive coordinator, the Las Vegas Raiders as a senior offensive assistant, and the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers in a variety of offensive coaching capacities.
He is an excellent addition to the Lions’ coaching staff because of his vast background in both play design and player development.
The promotion of Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator
He oversaw the first Lions player to register at least 85 tackles and five tackles for loss in each of his first two seasons since the start of the monitoring system in 1994: linebacker Jack Campbell. Linebacker Alex Anzalone also recorded consecutive seasons with at least 125 tackles, statistics which is only recorded by three other players in the team’s history have done.
The Buffalo Bills selected Sheppard 68th overall out of LSU in the 2011 NFL Draft, and he played in the NFL before becoming a coach. Before retiring, he played for a number of clubs, including the Bills, Colts, Dolphins, Giants, and Lions.
Sheppard was promoted from within the company. He is currently in his fifth season with the Lions, having previously been the team’s outside linebackers coach in 2021 and linebackers coach from 2022 to 2024.
An Important Season Is Coming
The NFC North is one of the NFL’s most competitive divisions, and the Lions are playing in it. Ben Johnson, their offensive coordinator, left for the division-rival Bears, which made matters more difficult. Both Morton and Sheppard will be crucial in making sure the squad is a Super Bowl contender in the next season as a result of these improvements.