What to expect from Detroit Lions' new coordinators - ESPN

DETROIT — When the Detroit Lions line up for their Week 1 opener against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 7, many fans' eyes will be on the men calling the shots on both sides of the ball.

New offensive coordinator John Morton and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard have taken over the roles after previous OC Ben Johnson and DC Aaron Glenn landed head coaching jobs with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets, respectively, this offseason.

The Lions are the fourth team since 2000 to lose both of their coordinators to head coaching jobs in the same offseason, joining the Eagles (2023), Bengals (2014) and Chargers (2007), according to ESPN Research.

Sheppard, 37 — who spent eight seasons (2011-18) in the NFL as a linebacker for the Bills, Colts, Dolphins and Lions — enters his fifth season with the organization, having arrived in 2021. He served one season as outside linebackers coach before being promoted to linebackers coach in 2022. Before joining the Lions, he served as the director of player development at LSU, where he was an All-SEC selection and team captain.

Morton, 55, was the Lions' senior offensive assistant in 2022. He spent the past two seasons as Denver's passing game coordinator, a role in which he helped Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix flourish last season. He also has served in offensive assistant roles under Jon Gruden with the Raiders, Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco and Sean Payton in New Orleans.

Coach Dan Campbell lost a total of eight assistants following the Lions' franchise-best 15-2 campaign in 2024, but he says he has been impressed with both of his new coordinators so far.

«Both of those guys are very detailed. Strength, there's a number of things they have. I think more importantly, it's about the