Former Lions quarterback David Blough could return to the organization as a coach. Blough, the Commanders’ assistant quarterbacks coach, is a candidate to become the Lions’ offensive coordinator, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. It’s unclear if he’ll interview for the position.
The Lions’ hunt for an O-coordinator began when they fired John Morton on Tuesday afternoon. Morton, the Lions’ initial replacement for Ben Johnson, lasted just one year in the role.
Detroit ranked fifth in both total offense and scoring in 2025, but Morton didn’t call the plays for the entire season. Head coach Dan Campbell took over the responsibilities in Week 10. The unit improved after Morton’s demotion.
Blough, an NFL quarterback from 2019-23, spent a good chunk of his short career in the Motor City. There’s familiarity with Campbell, who coached him in 2021 and ’23.
Still just 30 years old, Blough has been on Commanders head coach Dan Quinn‘s staff since 2024. Blough worked under former quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard for most of the past two seasons, and the two aided in the development of Jayden Daniels during that span.
While Daniels enjoyed a tremendous first season en route to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, injuries limited him to seven games in 2025. The Commanders fell from NFC Championship Game participants in 2024 to a dismal 5-12 during an injury-wrecked campaign. They lost Pritchard when he left to become Stanford’s head coach in late November. Blough finished the season as the Commanders’ interim QBs coach.
In returning to Detroit as a coordinator, Blough would inherit one of the league’s most talented offenses. Quarterback Jared Goff , running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery , wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams , and tight end Sam LaPorta are among their weapons under contract through at least next season.
Even if the Lions don’t hire him, it’s unclear if Blough will remain in Washington in 2026. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury exited his post on Tuesday. Kingsbury’s replacement may want to hire an entirely new group of coaches, which would leave Blough to look elsewhere.