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Skipper, Decker mull retirement following 2025 season (0:45)
Eric Woodyard reports on Dan Skipper and Taylor Decker following the Lions' Week 18 win over the Bears. (0:45)
Eric WoodyardJan 6, 2026, 05:09 PM ET
- Eric Woodyard covers the Detroit Lions for ESPN. He joined ESPN in September 2019 as an NBA reporter dedicated to the Midwest region before switching to his current role in April 2021. The Flint, Mich. native is a graduate of Western Michigan University and has authored/co-authored three books: "Wasted," "Ethan's Talent Search" and "All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story". He is a proud parent of one son, Ethan.
DETROIT -- The Lions have fired offensive coordinator John Morton after one season, the team announced Tuesday.
Morton, 56, was brought in to replace Ben Johnson, who was hired as head coach of the Chicago Bears after the Lions' record-setting 15-win season in 2024.
Detroit finished 9-8 this season and failed to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2022.
Head coach Dan Campbell took over the offensive playcalling duties from Morton in Week 10, coming off a 27-24 upset loss to Minnesota on Nov. 2.
Campbell says he hasn't decided on if he'll remain the permanent playcaller moving forward.
"I mean I'm open to anything. I don't know exactly where I'm at with that yet. I mean I guess one of the good things if I did do that, you don't have to worry about somebody else leaving," Campbell said on Monday. "You don't have to worry about your play-caller leaving. So, that would be one of the perks of it.
"But listen, I'm going to think through all of that, and I think I really want to do what I feel is best for the team -- and that included," he said. "If I believe that's what's best for us and I feel good about it, then I will. If I just feel like, 'Eh,' then I won't do it. I won't do it."
Detroit was among the league leaders in total points per game (28.3) but still struggled to find an offensive identity outside of home run plays this season despite having Pro Bowl selections Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs, among other weapons.
Under Johnson, the Lions led the NFL with 33.2 points per game in 2024.
Morton was also previously part of Campbell's Lions staff in 2022 as a senior offensive assistant before joining Sean Payton's staff with the Denver Broncos from 2023-24 as the passing game coordinator. He is a native of Rochester Hills, Michigan.
