John Morton (American football)

Last updated

John Morton
2008-1018-USC-JohnMorton.jpg
Morton before a 2008 game
Detroit Lions
Position:Offensive coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1969-09-24) September 24, 1969 (age 55)
Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.
Career information
High school: Avondale (Auburn Hills, Michigan)
College: Western Michigan
Undrafted: 1993
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Record  at Pro Football Reference

John Morton (born September 24, 1969) is an American football coach and former wide receiver who currently serves as the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as a Senior Offensive assistant coach for the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Las Vegas Raiders. He also served as an assistant coach at USC.

Contents

Playing career

Morton played college football at Western Michigan, where he was a wide receiver. He played wide receiver professionally for the Canadian Football League Toronto Argonauts and on the practice squads of the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers. [1]

Coaching career

After ending his playing career in 1997, Morton began working for the National Football League's Oakland Raiders, initially in the personnel department for one season. In 1998, he took a coaching position in the organization, originally as an offensive assistant working with wide receivers, and eventually was promoted to senior offensive assistant on a team that made it to Super Bowl XXXVII under head coach Bill Callahan. After another year at the position, he was elevated to Tight Ends Coach for the 2004 season under new Raiders head coach Norv Turner. [1]

In 2005, he joined Jim Harbaugh's staff at the University of San Diego, a D-IAA college program, where he coached the passing game and wide receivers for a squad that went 11-1-0 and won the Pioneer Football League Championship. The following season, he took a position as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints under head coach Sean Payton, who advanced to the 2006 NFC Championship game.

Morton joined USC in 2007, taking up a similar position to the one he held at San Diego. When offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian accepted a head coaching position with Washington, Morton was interviewed by head coach Pete Carroll as a candidate for the position. [2] As expected, Morton eventually got the job. [3] In 2017, he was hired by the New York Jets as an offensive coordinator. On January 17, 2018, Morton was subsequently fired. [4] In February 2019, Morton returned to Oakland as the Senior Offensive Assistant under Jon Gruden. In 2022 he was brought to the Detroit Lions for the same position.

On February 26, 2023, the Denver Broncos hired Morton as their passing game coordinator. [5]

On January 28, 2025, the Detroit Lions hired Morton as their offensive coordinator to replace Ben Johnson, who was hired as the new head coach of the Chicago Bears. [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 "John Morton - Football Coach".
  2. ↑ Klein, Gary (December 8, 2008). "Two coaches with quite the resumes". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ↑ Klein, Gary (December 13, 2008). "USC coaching staff may play musical chairs". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 14, 2008.
  4. ↑ Rapoport, Ian (January 17, 2018). "The #Jets have fired OC John Morton, source confirms (as @MMehtaNYDN reported)". @RapSheet. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Broncos hire Lions assistant coach John Morton as their new passing game coordinator". lionswire.usatoday.com. February 27, 2023. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  6. ↑ Booher, Christian (January 28, 2025). "Lions Hire John Morton as Offensive Coordinator". Detroit Lions On SI. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
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