New Detroit Lions offensive coordinator John Morton could have ended up with the Chicago Bears this season, but new details on his decision shed some light on how he ended up back with head coach Dan Campbell.
Detroit Free Press Lions reporter Dave Birkett published a story Sunday detailing Morton’s grappling with his next career move while on vacation after last season. From the comfort of his Cabo hotel, Morton was being pulled to the NFC North.
Birkett described the moments following former Lions OC Ben Johnson’s departure to become the Bears’ head coach as Campbell looked for his replacement.
“Campbell held Morton in high regard from the season they spent working together with the New Orleans Saints in 2016 – and the success they had six years later when Morton joined the Lions as senior offensive assistant ahead of the 2022 season,” Birkett said.
“Campbell and Morton spent 10 or 15 minutes on the phone talking ball as Morton and his girlfriend milled about the lobby. When Morton hung up, his phone buzzed with another familiar number – Johnson’s.”
According to Birkett, Morton spent his night in his hotel debating what he should do next. He was torn between joining the Lions, the Bears, or staying with the Broncos. In the end, he called some of his coaching peers to see what they thought of his situation.
“I talked to some people and they’re like, ‘Dude, if (Campbell) offers you the job, you freaking take it. What are you, an idiot?’ ” Morton said.
Morton later came in for a formal interview and took the job in Detroit. Campbell told the Free Press he had a “hunch” that Johnson would’ve called Morton.
“I mean, he’d be crazy not to,” Campbell said. “That’s the thing, Johnny is like a behind-the-scenes grinder. He’s not somebody that has ambition to be a head coach, he just wants to coach offensive football. That’s all he gives a crap about, and then just –that’s it. And so anybody that’s looking for somebody that’s creative and is a grinder, you’re going to want John Morton.”
You can see Birkett’s full story here.
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Peers told John Morton he’d be an ‘idiot’ not to take Lions’ OC job