Sam LaPorta on Lions New OC John Morton: He’s a ‘Brilliant Mind’

Following a 15-2 season that ended in ruins, which was a loss at home to the Washington Commanders in the NFC divisional round following a first-round bye, the Detroit Lions‘ coaching staff was raided.

Among the outgoing faces was offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who became the new head coach of the Chicago Bears. To replace Johnson, the Lions brought in Denver Broncos passing game coordinator John Morton to be their new offensive coordinator.

One of Morton’s top players, tight end Sam LaPorta, is a huge fan.

“[Our offense] is likely to be just a little bit completely different. Luckily, we saved a few our place coaches, particularly, our offensive line coach [Frank Haley],” LaPorta said about Detroit’s new teaching workers in an interview on “The Jim Rome Present.” “We promoted Hank Fraley to our run sport coordinator. So, lucky for me, we have now the identical run sport system this yr, the identical verbiage, which, as you’ll be able to think about, is so much. However Johnny Mo, go sport coordinator his complete life. Good thoughts, I feel he is gonna name the offense nice.”

Previous to his two-year stint in Denver underneath head coach Sean Payton (2023-24), Morton was a senior offensive assistant with the Lions for the 2022 season. He held the identical position with the Las Vegas Raiders from 2019-21 and was the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets in 2017, preceded by a number of different assistant teaching stints. 

As for LaPorta, a Professional Bowler in his 2023 rookie marketing campaign, the tight finish totaled 60 receptions for 726 yards and 7 touchdowns final season. He ranked sixth amongst tight ends with a 79.1 receiving grade and tenth with a 73.8 total grade, in line with Professional Soccer Focus.

Final season, Detroit’s offense was arguably one of the best within the sport, because the Lions had been first within the NFL with 33.2 factors per sport, second with each 263.2 passing yards and 409.5 complete yards and sixth with 146.4 dashing yards. 5 of Detroit’s 11 offensive starters had been initially invited to the 2025 Professional Bowl Video games: quarterback Jared Goff, operating again Jahmyr Gibbs, huge receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, sort out Penei Sewell and heart Frank Ragnow.

As for different departing coaches, the Lions misplaced defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who turned the top coach of the New York Jets, whereas line of defense coach Terrell Williams left to be the defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots. In the meantime, the Lions misplaced passing sport coordinator Tanner Engstrand, who turned the offensive coordinator for the Jets underneath Glenn, and huge receivers coach Antwaan Randle El and assistant quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett every adopted Johnson to the Bears.

This will likely be Morton’s second NFL offensive coordinator gig, beforehand holding the identical position for the Jets in 2017.

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