Former Lions offensive coordinator John Morton has returned to the Broncos’ coaching staff in a consultant role for the postseason, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Morton, 56, was hired by Detroit last offseason to replace Ben Johnson. Lions head coach Dan Campbell took over offensive play-calling midseason, essentially spelling doom for Morton’s job security.
He was fired after the regular season concluded, which freed him up to return to Sean Payton‘s staff to help the No. 1-seeded Broncos chase a Super Bowl. Morton struggled to mount an air attack with Russell Wilson at the helm in 2023, but he coached Bo Nix to a third-place finish in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2024.
Nix did not take much of a second-year leap. His 2025 statistics are similar to his rookie campaign, as are Denver’s overall offensive results. Morton’s re-introduction to the unit is not going to suddenly turn them into The Greatest Show on Turf, but he could certainly assist in their weekly game-planning, especially against a tougher slate of opponents relative to their regular-season schedule.
Morton has yet to receive any interest from another team for a 2026 coaching job. The door may be open for him to return to a position on Payton’s staff next season. A credited role in the Broncos’ potential postseason success could also revitalize interest in Morton, who has a long history as a coach with plenty of connections around the league.