Ex-Lions OC John Morton Joins Broncos Staff For Playoffs
Former Lions offensive coordinator John Morton has returned to the Broncos’ coaching staff in a consultant role for the postseason, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Morton, 56, was hired by Detroit last offseason to replace Ben Johnson. Lions head coach Dan Campbell took over offensive play-calling midseason, essentially spelling doom for Morton’s job security.
He was fired after the regular season concluded, which freed him up to return to Sean Payton‘s staff to help the No. 1-seeded Broncos chase a Super Bowl. Morton struggled to mount an air attack with Russell Wilson at the helm in 2023, but he coached Bo Nix to a third-place finish in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2024.
Nix did not take much of a second-year leap. His 2025 statistics are similar to his rookie campaign, as are Denver’s overall offensive results. Morton’s re-introduction to the unit is not going to suddenly turn them into The Greatest Show on Turf, but he could certainly assist in their weekly game-planning, especially against a tougher slate of opponents relative to their regular-season schedule.
Morton has yet to receive any interest from another team for a 2026 coaching job. The door may be open for him to return to a position on Payton’s staff next season. A credited role in the Broncos’ potential postseason success could also revitalize interest in Morton, who has a long history as a coach with plenty of connections around the league.
Lions Fire OC John Morton
Weeks after Dan Campbell took over Lions play-calling duties, the team will search for a new offensive coordinator. John Morton is out as OC after one season in the role, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports. The Lions have since announced the move.
This was rumored to be the direction the Lions were heading, and it certainly makes sense given the abrupt removal of Morton’s chief responsibility. The firing also comes after the Lions went through a curiously thin search to replace Ben Johnson.
Neither Lions coordinator search was thorough. Campbell promoted Kelvin Sheppard to DC and added Morton from the Broncos, who had him in place as their pass-game coordinator. The Lions only satisfied the Rooney Rule during their OC search, with Campbell clearly having Morton in mind after losing Johnson to the Bears. It would surprise if the team replicated that narrow search this time around.
Morton, 56, had worked as a senior offensive assistant in Detroit during the 2022 season. This dismissal marks Morton’s second one-and-done in an NFL OC role. The Jets moved on after the 2017 season. Morton had the misfortune of leading the Jets’ offense during what turned out to be a gap year, when the team let Ryan Fitzpatrick walk in free agency and signed Josh McCown as a stopgap starter. Morton’s setup, however, was much better in Detroit. The offense took a step back after Johnson departed for Chicago.
The Lions still ranked fourth in scoring offense and fifth in yardage, but Campbell yanked Morton’s play sheet prior to Week 10. The move reminded of Campbell’s impatience with Anthony Lynn, the Lions’ OC during Campbell’s first year as HC. Campbell demoted Lynn, taking the play sheet, before the parties separated after the 2021 season. This brought Johnson to the forefront, and he excelled in the OC role for three seasons. Johnson drew significant HC interest in 2023 and ’24 but backed out of the running in both years. This gave Campbell some time to determine a replacement, but his first choice backfired.
While the Lions deserve criticism for not conducting much of a search to replace Johnson, continuity concerns motivated the decisions. Morton had been with the Lions three years ago and interviewed for the OC job Lynn landed a year prior. Following Morton’s Jets firing, he was on Jon Gruden‘s Raiders staff (as a senior assistant) for three years. The Broncos appointed him as their PGC in 2023. That season brought a Russell Wilson turnaround, and while Sean Payton has received most of the credit for that and Bo Nix‘s impressive career start, Morton parlayed Nix’s rookie season into an OC opportunity.
When Campbell took the call sheet, the Lions ranked 12th in yards per game. The second half brought an improvement, as Morton faded into the background. The Lions enjoyed good health at the skill positions, but Morton struggled to keep Jameson Williams involved in the offense. Detroit ran into some injury trouble along its offensive line, but the Jared Goff-piloted offense still stayed in the top five following Johnson’s departure.
The Lions have Goff, Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, David Montgomery and Penei Sewell signed long term. Jahmyr Gibbs is an extension candidate as well, creating obvious appeal for this job. Morton has spent a few years away at the college level, but he began his NFL coaching tenure in 1998. He has been a two-time Gruden staffer and three-time Payton assistant. A drop south of the coordinator level appears a near-certainty after this quick firing.
Coaching Notes: Chiefs, Lions, Udinski, Leonhard, Idzik, Brown, Bears, Pitcher, Scheelhaase, Godsey
Matt Nagy looms as one of the top head coaching candidates with an offensive background in this year’s hiring cycle. A departure for a second HC opportunity (or at least a play-calling offensive coordinator role) is something to watch for over the coming days.
In the event Nagy were to head elsewhere, the Chiefs would find themselves in need of an OC replacement. The team could look to familiar options in such a scenario. Kansas City would “welcome back” Mike Kafka or Eric Bieniemy, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report.
Bieniemy, 56, worked under Andy Reid from 2013-22. That span included five years in the offensive coordinator role. Bieniemy led Washington’s offense for one season before doing the same at UCLA. He is currently serving as the Bears‘ running backs coach. Kafka, meanwhile, was with the Chiefs for five years, operating as quarterbacks coach and pass-game coordinator along the way. As the interim head coach of the Giants, the 38-year-old’s future is currently unclear.
With Black Monday approaching, here are some other coaching notes from around the NFL:
- Lions head coach Dan Campbell recently hinted at staffing changes. It would comes as little surprise if OC John Morton were to be among those let go, seeing as he was stripped of play-calling duties midway through the campaign. Morton said (via Rapoport and Pelissero) “I’d like to be here” when asked about the possibility of remaining in Detroit. Taking on a lesser role for next season could thus be something to watch for as Campbell looks into his coordinator options.
- Overall, the pool of head coaching candidates for 2026 is not seen as being as strong as last year. A large number of firings over the next few days may not be forthcoming as a result. On the other hand, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes (subscription required) this winter could be busier than usual in terms of coordinator changes. Jaguars OC Grant Udinski, Broncos secondary coach Jim Leonhard, Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik and Patriots pass-game coordinator Thomas Brown are among the staffers she identifies among those who have drawn strong reviews for their work this season.
- Ben Johnson has impressed during his debut season in Chicago. He could be in line to lose a number of key assistants soon, however. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports names Bieniemy as a candidate to depart this winter with his stock having received a boost. In addition, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, pass-game coordinator Press Taylor and quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett have each generated buzz regarding interest around the league. Johnson may have multiple vacancies to fill in the near future in the wake of Chicago’s successful campaign.
- Dan Pitcher has been with the Bengals since 2016. Over that time, he has worked his way up to quarterbacks coach, a role he has had for six seasons and counting. The 38-year-old finds himself as an interview candidate for OC positions, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Losing Pitcher would deal another blow to the stability Zac Taylor enjoyed on his offensive staff until Brian Callahan‘s departure in 2025.
- Fowler also points to Nate Scheelhaase as a “sleeper” with respect to offensive coordinator interviews. Scheelhaase, 35, served in many positions at the college level before joining the Rams in 2024; he currently serves as the team’s pass-game coordinator. Many Sean McVay assistants have gone on to land notable gigs elsewhere in the NFL, and along with D-coordinator Chris Shula Scheelhaase could soon become the latest to do so.
- Since 2022, George Godsey has served as the Ravens’ tight ends coach. That tenure is nearing an end, however, Godsey is finalizing a deal to become the next offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports. By returning to his alma mater, Godsey will end a run of NFL coaching positions which dates back to 2011.
Lions Could Explore Offseason OC Change
Lions head coach Dan Campbell indicated that changes may be coming in Detroit after the team was eliminated from the playoffs on Christmas.
“I’m gonna be looking at a lot,” Campbell said (via Colton Pouncy of The Athletic).“I’m gonna be looking at a lot of things, because I do not like being home for the playoffs.”
Among them could be a change at offensive coordinator. Pass game coordinator John Morton took over the job after Ben Johnson left in the offseason. He got the Lions offense off to a hot start before slowing around midseason. Campbell took over play-calling in Week 10 and the unit bounced back. However, they could not carry a decimated Detroit defense into the playoffs.
Though the offense finished fourth in points and sixth in yards, Campbell could still consider swapping out his offensive coordinator this offseason, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. That would indicate he wants to hand play-calling duties back to another coach, which could also be a factor in attracting the best candidates. While the Lions’ job would be a step up for any offensive assistant, the availability of play-calling duties could draw coordinators who work under offensive head coaches and do not call plays. Those coordinators could jump at the chance to work with the Lions’ talented roster and strengthen their candidacy for a future head coaching gig.
An obvious wellspring of potential OC talent is in Chicago, where Johnson has quickly developed one of the league’s top offenses. He brought multiple assistants with him from Detroit, including wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El and quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett. Bears OC Declan Doyle also worked with Campbell in New Orleans, though the Bears could block Doyle from interviewing for the same position with the Lions.
Of course, Morton still played a role in the Lions’ offensive success in the past three years and may be more comfortable calling plays after going through some bumps in his debut year. Campbell could also decide to hold onto play-calling duties and keep Morton to run the rest of the offense.
Lions HC Dan Campbell Assumes Week 10 Offensive Play-Calling Duties
11:00pm: When speaking after his team’s 44-22 win, Campbell said (via ESPN’s Eric Woodyard) he decided to make the change following last week’s game. Morton was still involved in handling the offense in Week 10, though. Campbell added this situation is different from that of 2021, the year in which he permanently took over play-calling duties from Anthony Lynn midway through the campaign.
6:33pm: Leading up to Week 10, there were questions about a potential change in terms of how the Lions would operate on offense. For at least one game, head coach Dan Campbell is handling play-calling duties.
“I’ve got a million ideas,” Campbell said last week when speaking about his team’s offense (via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network). “And I believe it’s going to work this week. And if it doesn’t, then I’ve got another idea. I’ve got plenty. We’ll get this thing going.”
Entering Sunday’s game, the Lions ranked fourth in the NFL in scoring but only 12th in terms of yards per game. Middling production through the air led to talk about new offensive coordinator John Morton being stripped of play-calling duties. Garafolo was among those who noticed Campbell appeared to be handling those duties, although the fifth-year head coach regularly consults a callsheet even when that is not the case.
When speaking to Fox Sports’ Megan Olivi at halftime, Campbell confirmed he has assumed the role of play-caller for today’s game. He noted the team simply wanted to “change things up,” and it will be interesting to see if that setup continues moving forward. Campbell called plays early in his Lions tenure.
Those responsibilities were shouldered by Ben Johnson during his three-year tenure as Detroit’s offensive coordinator. His success in that role made him one of the league’s top head coaching candidates, and Johnson took charge of the Bears this offseason. Campbell and the Lions looked internally to replace DC Aaron Glenn by promoting Kelvin Shephard to that spot, but Morton was brought in as an outside hire following his two seasons working alongside Sean Payton in Denver.
The Lions have enjoyed a very strong outing against the Commanders, a team which has been reeling as of late. Still, that level of success could lead Campbell to carry on calling plays moving forward. Otherwise, Morton will be tasked with building on Detroit’s momentum and in doing so putting to rest doubts about his status.
Lions’ John Morton Hire, Kelvin Sheppard Promotion Driven By Continuity Concerns
After three consecutive winning seasons and two straight NFC North titles, and after coming heart-wrenchingly close to a Super Bowl appearance at the end of the 2023 campaign, the Lions have had to come to grips with the reality that other successful franchises face: a brain drain. On the heels of its 15-2 showing in 2024, Detroit lost offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, as both men accepted head coaching gigs elsewhere.
However, the Lions did not search far and wide to replace them (as our 2025 coordinator tracker shows). With respect to the OC post, there were no publicly-reported interviews other than the one for John Morton, and new DC Kelvin Sheppard’s only competition for his job prior to his promotion was Buccaneers inside linebackers coach Larry Foote.
As Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press confirms, that was by design. Although it would be reductive to say that Morton and Sheppard landed their positions solely due to continuity concerns, Birkett says continuity was certainly a major factor.
Morton, 55, worked as the Lions’ senior offensive assistant in 2022, which was Dan Campbell’s second season as the club’s head coach and Johnson’s first as the offensive coordinator. Birkett noted in a human interest piece on Morton earlier this year that Campbell wanted to replace Johnson with someone who would retain much of the outgoing play-caller’s terminology and playbook, and that is what he will get in Morton.
After the 2022 season, Morton left Detroit to join Sean Payton’s first staff with the Broncos. The success that rookie passer Bo Nix enjoyed in Denver in 2024 helped Morton rebuild his OC stock, and the upcoming season will mark his second attempt at the position (he was the Jets’ offensive coordinator in 2017, when the team was quarterbacked primarily by Josh McCown). In addition to his familiarity with Johnson’s scheme, Morton will inherit a roster that returns its core group of high-end skill-position players and O-linemen. Birkett believes Morton will call for more downfield throws than his predecessor, but the offense should otherwise look quite similar.
Sheppard, 37, enjoyed an eight-year playing career, and he has quickly risen up the coaching ladder since becoming a part of Campbell’s first Lions staff in 2021 as the team’s outside linebackers coach. He has earned praise for helping revive the careers of veterans like Alex Anzalone and helping guide young draft picks like Jack Campbell and Malcolm Rodriguez, and his reputation as a rising star in the coaching world extended beyond Michigan.
While Birkett says Sheppard (a former linebacker) sees defense through a different “prism” than Glenn (a former defensive back), Sheppard will, like Morton, inherit a strong collection of returning players, including the likes of Anzalone, Jack Campbell, Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, Brian Branch, and Kerby Joseph. The Lions finished in the bottom half of the league in terms of total defense in 2024, but they allowed the seventh-fewest points per game.
Lions Hire John Morton As OC
JANUARY 28: The Morton hire is now official, as first noted by Rapoport and Pelissero. The Broncos’ staff has seen another notable departure while the Lions will look to an outside figure to duplicate Johnson’s success on offense.
JANUARY 27: The Lions moved quickly in internally filling their defensive coordinator position. The OC vacancy is likewise soon to be taken care of, with the team looking to a familiar candidate.
Broncos pass-game coordinator John Morton is traveling to Detroit today, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Lions are working to finalize his hire for the offensive coordinator role. Provided this goes through, it will mark Morton’s second coordinator gig in the NFL and allow him to return to Detroit. He and Dan Campbell worked together in 2022.
Morton recently interviewed for the Lions’ OC gig, per Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. As a result, he became a name to watch closely on this front. Indeed, Schefter said on a Monday Pat McAfee Show appearance that the 55-year-old was likely to get the nod (video link). Provided everything goes according to plan upon arrival in the Motor City, that will prove to be the case.
After a playing career that spanned the NFL, CFL and World League of American Football, Morton transitioned to coaching in 1998. His first opportunity came with the Raiders, and he remained with the team for seven years. That stretch was followed by time with the Chargers, Saints (twice) and 49ers with a spell at USC in between. Morton’s first OC position in the pro game came in 2017 with the Jets. After a poor showing in his debut New York campaign, he was fired.
Morton then returned to the Raiders and spent time with them as a senior offensive assistant; he held that same role during his one campaign working with Campbell and the Lions. For the past two years, he worked with Sean Payton on the Broncos’ staff, overseeing the transition to a Bo Nix-led offense this past campaign. Denver’s success on that front did not generate coordinator interest from other teams, but it has now allowed him to receive a second OC opportunity at the NFL level.
Expectations will certainly be high for Morton in 2025. Ben Johnson oversaw Detroit’s offense for each of the past three years, and the unit ranked top-five in points and yards every campaign during that span. Once again, Johnson found himself as one of the hottest head coaching candidates in this year’s hiring cycle, one in which Campbell conceded a departure was more likely than before. Indeed, Johnson landed his first HC gig by taking charge of the Bears.
Much of the Lions’ offensive core will remain intact this offseason, with the likes of Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, Taylor Decker and David Montgomery attached to extensions. Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta and Jameson Williams are on their rookie deals, meanwhile, so a high degree of continuity can be expected for next year. Given the changes on the sidelines, however, Detroit’s ability to remain among the league’s best on offense will be a talking point under Morton.
2025 NFL Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker
Last year, half the league changed up at offensive and defensive coordinator. As most HC-needy teams have now filled their open positions, the coordinator carousel has accelerated. Here is how the market looks now. When other teams make changes, they will be added to the list.
Updated 2-21-25 (1:59pm CT)
Offensive coordinators
Chicago Bears (Out: Chris Beatty)
- Declan Doyle, tight ends coach (Broncos): Hired
- Hank Fraley, offensive line coach (Lions): Rumored candidate; staying with Lions
- Bo Hardegree, quarterbacks coach (Titans): Interview requested
- David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Interviewed 1/25
- Israel Woolfork, quarterbacks coach (Cardinals): Interview requested
Cleveland Browns (Out: Ken Dorsey)
- Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/9
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Interviewed 1/10
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed 1/13
- Charles London, quarterbacks coach (Falcons): Interviewed
- Tommy Rees, tight ends coach (Browns): Promoted
Dallas Cowboys (Out: Brian Schottenheimer)
- Klayton Adams, offensive line coach (Cardinals): To be hired
- Ken Dorsey, former offensive coordinator (Browns): Mentioned as candidate
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Interviewed
- Scottie Montgomery, running backs coach (Lions): Interviewed
Detroit Lions (Out: Ben Johnson)
- John Morton, pass-game coordinator (Broncos): Hired
Houston Texans (Out: Bobby Slowik)
- Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Rams): Hired
- Brian Johnson, pass game coordinator (Commanders): Interview requested
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed 1/27
- Chip Kelly, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Ohio State): Team has interest
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Seahawks
- Bill Lazor, senior offensive assistant (Texans): Interviewed 1/30
- Thad Lewis, quarterbacks coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/28
- Ben McDaniels, wide receivers coach/pass-game coordinator (Texans): Mentioned as candidate
- Jeff Nixon, offensive coordinator (Syracuse): Interviewed 1/27
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/30
Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Press Taylor)
- Chip Kelly, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach (Ohio State): Team has interest
- Tavita Pritchard, quarterbacks coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/29
- Nate Scheelhaase, pass game specialist (Rams): Interviewed 1/29; seen as favorite; staying with Rams
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Hired
Las Vegas Raiders
- Darrell Bevell, quarterbacks coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/28; frontrunner
- Bo Hardegree, quarterbacks coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed
- Chip Kelly, offensive coordinator (Ohio State): Hired
- David Shaw, senior personnel executive (Broncos): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Lions
New England Patriots (Out: Alex Van Pelt)
- Eric Bieniemy, former offensive coordinator (UCLA): Interviewed
- Marcus Brady, pass-game coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/18
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/14
- Josh McDaniels, former head coach (Raiders): Hired
- Tommy Rees, tight ends coach (Browns): Rumored candidate; promoted by Browns
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/21
New Orleans Saints (Out: Klint Kubiak)
- Kevin Koger, tight ends coach (Falcons): Rejected interview request
- Doug Nussmeier, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Hired
- Kevin Patullo, pass-game coordinator (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Robert Prince, receivers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 2/15
- Jemal Singleton, assistant head coach/running backs coach (Eagles): Interviewed 2/17
New York Jets (Out: Nathaniel Hackett)
- Mark Brunell, quarterbacks coach (Lions): Mentioned as candidate
- Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Rams): Turned down interest
- Tanner Engstrand, pass-game coordinator (Lions): Hired
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Team to pursue interview
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Seahawks
- Scott Turner, interim offensive coordinator (Raiders): Mentioned as candidate
Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Kellen Moore)
- Kevin Patullo, pass-game coordinator (Eagles): Promoted
San Francisco 49ers
- Klay Kubiak, pass-game specialist (49ers): Promotion expected
- Noah Pauley, wide receivers coach (Iowa State): Interviewed 1/13
Seattle Seahawks (Out: Ryan Grubb)
- Thomas Brown, interim head coach (Bears): Interviewed
- Hank Fraley, offensive line coach (Lions): Conducted second interview 1/21; staying with Lions
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Hired
- Byron Leftwich, former offensive coordinator (Buccaneers): Interviewed
- Adam Stenavich, offensive coordinator (Packers): Interviewed
- Travis Switzer, run-game coordinator (Ravens): Interviewed
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Conducted second interview 1/17
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Liam Coen)
- Marcus Brady, pass-game coordinator (Chargers): Interviewed 1/25
- Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/27
- Josh Grizzard, pass-game coordinator (Buccaneers): Promoted
- Dave Ragone, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Interviewed 1/28
- Nate Scheelhaase, offensive assistant/passing game specialist (Rams): Interviewed 1/27
- Grant Udinski, assistant quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Interviewed 1/25
Defensive coordinators
Atlanta Falcons (Out: Jimmy Lake)
- Lou Anarumo, former defensive coordinator (Bengals): Interviewed 1/15
- Derrick Ansley, pass-game coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed 1/16
- Grady Brown, secondary coach (Steelers): Interviewed 1/17
- Matt Eberflus, former head coach (Bears): Interviewed 1/18
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Interviewed 1/14
- Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (Jets): Hired
- Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed 1/17
Chicago Bears (Out: Eric Washington)
- Dennis Allen, former head coach (Saints): Hired
- Lou Anarumo, former defensive coordinator (Bengals): Rumored candidate; hired by Colts
- Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): To interview
- Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interview requested
Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Lou Anarumo)
- DeMarcus Covington, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed
- Matt Eberflus, former head coach (Bears): Mentioned as candidate
- Al Golden, defensive coordinator (Notre Dame): Hired
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Rumored candidate
Dallas Cowboys (Out: Mike Zimmer)
- Ryan Crow, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interview requested
- Andre Curtis, safeties coach (Bears): Interviewed
- Matt Eberflus, former head coach (Bears): Hired
Detroit Lions (Out: Aaron Glenn)
- Larry Foote, inside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Interviewed
- Kelvin Sheppard, linebackers coach (Lions): Promoted
Indianapolis Colts (Out: Gus Bradley)
- Dennis Allen, former head coach (Saints): Interviewed 1/17
- Lou Anarumo, former defensive coordinator (Bengals): Hired
- Ephraim Banda, safeties coach (Browns): Interviewed 1/10
- Wink Martindale, defensive coordinator (Michigan): Interviewed 1/15
- Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): Interviewed
Jacksonville Jaguars (Out: Ryan Nielsen)
- Anthony Campanile, linebackers coach/running game coordinator (Packers): Hired
- Jonathan Cooley, pass-game coordinator (Panthers): Interview requested
- Patrick Graham, former defensive coordinator (Raiders): Interviewed 1/27
- Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed 1/27
- Aubrey Pleasant, defensive pass-game coordinator (Rams): Interviewed 1/28
Las Vegas Raiders
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Retained
- Rob Leonard, defensive line coach (Raiders): Interviewed 1/27
- Karl Scott, pass-game coordinator (Seahawks): Interview requested
New England Patriots (Out: DeMarcus Covington)
- Ryan Crow, outside linebackers coach (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/21
- Terrell Williams, defensive line coach (Lions): Hired
New Orleans Saints (Out: Joe Woods)
- George Edwards, outside linebackers coach (Buccaneers): Mentioned as candidate
- Daronte Jones, defensive pass-game coordinator (Vikings): To interview 2/15
- Robert Livingston, defensive coordinator (University of Colorado): Was under consideration
- Christian Parker, passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach (Eagles): Interviewed 2/16
- Brandon Staley, assistant head coach (49ers): Hired
New York Jets (Out: Jeff Ulbrich)
- Chris Harris, former defensive backs coach/passing game coordinator (Titans): Interviewed 1/29
- Steve Wilks, former defensive coordinator (49ers): To be hired
San Francisco 49ers (Out: Nick Sorensen)
- Gus Bradley, former defensive coordinator (Colts): Rumored candidate
- Robert Saleh, former head coach (Jets): Hired
- Brandon Staley, assistant head coach (49ers): Mentioned as candidate
- Deshea Townsend, defensive backs coach (Lions): Interviewed 1/9
- Jeff Ulbrich, interim head coach (Jets): Rumored candidate
Broncos Add John Morton To Staff
While Ronald Curry ended up staying with the Saints, Sean Payton‘s Broncos staff includes a number of ex-New Orleans assistants — particularly on the offense side of the ball.
The Broncos are giving Joe Lombardi, whom the Chargers fired last month, an immediate bounce-back opportunity. His hire was, in fact, Denver’s OC move. The Broncos also added ex-Saints offensive lineman-turned-assistant Zach Strief as their O-line coach, former New Orleans assistant Declan Doyle as their tight ends coach and Mike Westhoff as an assistant HC. Westhoff, an NFL special teams coach since the 1980s, will help with Denver’s ST units.
Denver also added John Morton to its staff. The team announced the former Jets OC is headed to Denver as passing game coordinator. Morton coming over gives the Broncos another ex-Saints staffer and adds a third former OC to Denver’s staff. Morton served as the Jets’ OC in 2017 but has been on the senior offensive assistant level since that one-and-done stay under Todd Bowles.
Morton, 53, spent last season as a senior offensive assistant in Detroit, after being a Jon Gruden hire in Oakland. Morton spent the 2019-21 seasons with the Raiders and played a role in helping the resurgent Lions assemble one of the NFL’s top offenses. Morton’s Jets season came during a clear bridge campaign on offense, when the team did not make a notable quarterback move and instead entrusted Josh McCown at the controls ahead of a 2018 offseason that featured the Sam Darnold trade-up. The Jets ranked 24th in points scored that year.
Payton made Morton part of his first Saints staff back in 2006, hiring him as New Orleans’ pass-game coordinator that year. Morton moved on to USC under Pete Carroll after one New Orleans season but came back in 2015, staying on for two seasons as the Saints’ wide receivers coach. He will now rejoin Payton and Lombardi, along with QBs coach Davis Webb, as the offensive brain trust for a Broncos team that finished the 2022 season with the league’s fewest points.
Saints To Hire Doug Marrone; Pete Carmichael Ticketed For Non-OC Role
After a year back in the college ranks, Doug Marrone has landed a new NFL gig. He is set to join Dennis Allen‘s Saints staff, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
This will be a return for Marrone, who was part of Sean Payton‘s original Saints staff. Payton hired Marrone as his offensive coordinator in 2006, and he stayed three seasons — before heading to Syracuse to be the program’s head coach. This will be Marrone’s first NFL job since the Jaguars fired him after four-plus seasons.
[RELATED: OC Pete Carmichael Declines Saints HC Interview]
Marrone, 57, has been an NFL HC in Buffalo and Jacksonville. While his 2017 Jags team nearly became a surprise Super Bowl entrant, the following years featured a steady decline that ended in a 1-15 season in 2020. Marrone spent last season as Alabama’s O-line coach, joining ex-Texans HC Bill O’Brien on Nick Saban‘s staff.
It is unclear if Marrone is being considered for the Saints’ OC job. Carmichael has held that position for the past 13 years, but NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan notes Payton’s longtime lieutenant is not expected to remain in that role. Carmichael is on track to stay on under Allen, but in a different role. Carmichael requested the change, per Duncan.
New Orleans would not be permitted to name Marrone OC without complying with the Rooney Rule first, however. OC interviews should be expected in the near future. Post-Payton, New Orleans’ OC role will take on greater importance due to Allen’s status as a defensive-minded coach. The Saints’ next OC will be in line to call plays.
In addition to adding Marrone, the Saints are considering hiring ex-Jets OC John Morton, Duncan adds. Morton, 52, served two tenures under Payton in New Orleans. The most recent one came from 2015-16, when Morton worked as the Saints’ wide receivers coach. Morton spent the 2017 season as Jets OC but was fired soon after. He worked on Jon Gruden‘s Raiders staff for three years following that ouster.