Detroit Lions Podcast: John Morton Out and the OC Search
Morton Out, Campbell Hints at Calling Plays
The Detroit Lions moved on from offensive coordinator John Morton on Tuesday. The decision resets the offense and spotlights the play-calling question. Dan Campbell signaled he is open to handling the call sheet. He also suggested stability if the play caller is him. The likely model is clear. Hire an offensive coordinator who keeps the current Detroit Lions structure intact while sharpening schematics, play designs, game planning, and week-to-week sequencing.
The midseason shift strained the operation. Campbell did a lot of the heavy lifting, and it bled into other duties. If that setup existed from Week 1, the outcome might have looked different. Now the Detroit Lions can define roles before the next snap. The NFL calendar will not wait.
David Blough Makes Immediate Sense
David Blough was the first name to surface. He served as the Washington Commanders quarterbacks coach last season. He is young and considered an up-and-comer. He once backed up in Detroit and understands the Lions locker room. He also knows Jared Goff well. That matters.
Blough has been around varied systems, including Washington’s approach and time in Cleveland with Stefanski. Jumping to offensive coordinator after two years as a coach is a big step. It becomes more reasonable if Campbell calls the plays. In that setup, Blough could drive passing concepts, opponent-specific installs, and weekly structure while the head coach manages the call flow.
Antoine Randall El Fits the Room, With a Catch
Another strong candidate is Antoine Randall El. He is the Chicago Bears wide receivers coach and assistant head coach. He left Detroit after a long run coaching the Lions receivers. That was not easy for him. His fingerprints are all over the current room. He helped rein in Jamo and earn his buy-in. Jamo rewarded that trust with a fantastic season.
Randall l knows the personnel, the tone, and the standards. He has worked with Mark Brunell, Hank Fraley, and Scottie Montgomery. Seth Ryan is likely to remain and is well liked. The snag is title. Moving from assistant head coach to coordinator is technically a demotion. Extracting him from Chicago could be complicated.
Internal Route Unlikely, External Fit Paramount
An internal promotion appears unlikely. The Detroit Lions did not pivot in-season when it was needed most. Maybe they were averse to an in-season firing. Either way, the search points outward. The next OC must align with the offense built by Campbell and Ben Johnson, then refine the details. If Campbell keeps the call sheet, the coordinator’s job centers on design, sequencing, and opponent answers. The mandate is simple. Make the current Detroit Lions offense more efficient on Sundays.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6dP3VIyDo8
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