New Lions OC John Morton and new Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard spoke to FOX 2 Detroit this week. Here are the biggest takeaways.
The Detroit Lions officially announced the hiring of their new coordinators—John Morton as the offensive coordinator and Kelvin Sheppard as defensive coordinator—on January 30. It’s been nearly three weeks, and we had yet to hear from the coaches, but the two broke their silence this week in a pair of interviews with Fox 2 Detroit’s Dan Miller. You can view each interview separately below;
But here are the most important points from each interview.
John Morton
Morton will be calling plays
I never thought it was really in question, but I suppose there was a chance Dan Campbell would retain play calling duties after he did so during a short period in 2021. Morton made it clear, though, that he’ll be in control of that in 2025.
Morton was the play caller for the Jets in his lone other offensive coordinator job, back in 2017. That team struggled offensively but also had a very thin pool of talent. Morton explained why he expects things to be different this time around.
“I just think that situation in New York, it was tough,” Morton said. “I was hired in, I had to keep the coaches—I didn’t know anyone there. Here, I know people. They know me, I know them.”
Morton was involved in filling out the rest of the Lions’ coaching staff
Perhaps this won’t come as a surprise considering his close ties to new pass game coordinator David Shaw, but Morton also revealed he was in on some of the coaching interviews the Lions recently did to fill out the rest of their staff.
“We just finalized our staff. I was in on those interviews,” Morton said. “I can’t tell you how excited I am for the coaches we have here now.”
Morton worked closely with Jared Goff in 2022
Morton was the Lions’ senior offensive assistant back in 2022, and it wasn’t clear what that role was at the time, other than helping install the offense. Morton revealed to Miller that he was actually working very closely with quarterback Jared Goff during that time, and believes that connection between coordinator and quarterback will help him moving forward.
“It all starts with the quarterback,” Morton said. “So just kinda knowing him, and then when I was here, I was in the quarterback room. So I have a feel for what he likes, what he doesn’t and that’s important as a play caller.”
Morton will “continue the vision”
Obviously, any time a new coach comes in, they’ll have their spin on things. However, Morton said he plans on continuing what has already been built in Detroit: the No. 1 offense in the NFL.
“They’ve already established a philosophy here, and it’s just my job to make sure I continue the vision of how Dan (Campbell) wants things,” Morton said. “We’ll tinker with things here and there, and we’ll see how we can make it better.”
Kelvin Sheppard
Dan Campbell is the reason Sheppard stayed
Sheppard was asked what it’s meant to have Dan Campbell’s backing since the moment he stepped into the building, and Sheppard gave a strong answer.
“It’s the reason I chose to stay here over other opportunities. It would have been almost impossible to take another job,” Sheppard said.
Dom Capers was a big influence
In 2021, the Lions hired the legendary Dom Capers as a senior defensive assistant. He was in Allen Park for a year and then he was gone. We never heard much about his time in Detroit, so it was interesting to hear how much he influenced Sheppard, who was in his first coaching job at the NFL level as the team’s outside linebackers coach.
“Dom Capers was exceptional,” Sheppard said. “Showing me everything he told me. ‘Don’t just be boxed in. Look at this. I want to show you how I built two franchises, two startups, two expansions.’ Just having guys willing to pour into me, it’s the reason I go about my business the way I do and making sure I’m pouring back into others.”
A few other defensive coaches had opportunities, but stayed
Shep mentioned that defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend had some defensive coordinator opportunities this offseason. That’s not a complete surprise, as we knew he interviewed for the 49ers ’ defensive coordinator position. However, Sheppard also revealed that Jim O’Neil—the team’s defensive assistant who works primarily with the safeties—also had opportunities he turned down.
“(He) had opportunities elsewhere,” Sheppard said. “Sticking around and sticking with me, that’s the type of stuff I work for.”
Defensive front is a focus
While Sheppard admitted it will be an adjustment to go from focusing just on the linebacking corps to the entire team, he did talk about how important it will be to get the Lions’ defensive line right.
“Everything you do on defense starts with the front,” Sheppard said. “Just look at the final guys in the championship game. It’s not like I’m telling some secret. Everything you do on defense starts with the front. It starts in the trenches, in both the run and the pass game.”
Terrion Arnold 2025 jump incoming
Miller asked a great question to Sheppard: who on defense is primed to take a jump in 2025? Sheppard listed multiple players, but the first one he mentioned was 2024 first-round pick Terrion Arnold.
“Somebody that jumps out to me is Terrion Arnold. There is so much meat on that bone that he don’t even know,” Sheppard said.
Other players Sheppard mentioned: Ennis Rakestraw, Mekhi Wingo, Brian Branch, and Kerby Joseph.