After an early-season lull to the Detroit Lions’ offense, coach Dan Campbell opted to take over the head-calling reins from offensive coordinator John Morton for the team’s Week 10 matchup against the Washington Commanders. The results were undeniable. While the Commanders’ defense is not amongst the league’s best, Detroit still put up their best offensive output of the year. They finished with a season-high 546 yards, put up 44 points, and scored on every drive other than the final possession that
ended the game.
After the 44-22 victory, Campbell explained why he made the move—and how Morton was still very much involved on the day.
“Let’s try something a little different,” Campbell said. “Look, I know what I want to do, I know how I want to do it. Now, that being said, this is a collaborative effort, now. I was taking input from John Morton the whole time, and the other coaches. […] But I just wanted to change things up a little bit. Let’s just see if maybe a different play-caller can, maybe give us a little rhythm. That’s all. And, honestly, it’s nothing more than that.”
Campbell opted to make the switch the day after the Vikings’ loss, where the Lions put up just 65 rushing yards—their seventh-lowest of the entire Campbell era. They were averaging just 21.7 points per game in their previous three contests.
“When you’re the head coach and you know how you want it to look, it’s one thing to kinda say how you want it to look, but it’s hard to crawl into my head. […] I just know I have a good feel of our players and I know what we’re capable of, I know what they’re capable of,” Campbell said.
This isn’t the first time Campbell has done this. Back in his first season in Detroit, Campbell took over play-calling duties from then-offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn, and the offense showed a similar spark. Detroit finished that 2021 season with a 3-3 record in the last six games. At the end of the season, Lynn and the Lions agreed to mutually part.
Campbell insisted this situation isn’t the same, noting that Morton is still critical to the offense’s game-day operations.
“John is vital to me. He gives me critical information that deals with the pass game,” Campbell said. “That, number one, is his baby. That’s his bread and butter. That’s one of the things he does well. So I think that’s the best I can say. He’s good. I’m glad he’s here.”
Later adding, “I know how the other one ended, but this is where I’m at, and he’s in a great spot. He helped me out today.”
He also believed Morton took the news well.
“John Morton’s all team, man. That’s all he cares about. He just wants to win, he wants to be a part of it, he wants to help where he can, and he was outstanding today,” Campbell said. “[…] If you’re him, of course, it probably doesn’t feel too good, but also, he’s a pro. He understands everything, so we move on.”
It’s unclear where the offense goes from here, but it certainly sounds like Campbell plans on keeping himself very involved with the offensive play calling.
“I like the setup of the staff, and I think the players are in a good place, and I think we can grow from here,” Campbell said.
