Campbell excited about new coordinators: Lions aren't 'starting from scratch'

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell downplayed any concerns about his team having two new coordinators heading into the 2025 season.

"We'll be fine," Campbell said this week, according to Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith.

He added: "It'll be kind of fresh and new, actually, and I think we're all excited about that."

Detroit hired John Morton as offensive coordinator and Kelvin Sheppard to be the team's defensive coordinator after losing Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to head coaching hires earlier this offseason. The Chicago Bears hired Johnson, while Glenn joined the New York Jets. Each had been in their respective position with the Lions for at least three seasons.

Morton spent the last two campaigns as the pass game coordinator with the Denver Broncos after serving as a senior offensive assistant with the Lions in 2022. Sheppard was promoted from his role as Lions linebackers coach, which he held for three seasons.

"John Morton stepping in as offensive coordinator, somebody I trust, I've been around, he was here when we built this thing back up in '22," Campbell said. "And then Kelvin Sheppard's been here, man. It's not like we'll be starting from scratch with somebody I don't know."

The Lions led the NFL in points scored and ranked second in total yards last season with Johnson as OC. Detroit ranked top five in both offensive categories all three years that Johnson called plays.

Meanwhile, the Glenn-led defense allowed the league's seventh-fewest points in 2024 despite being ravaged by injuries down the stretch.