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Lions OC John Morton Makes Announcement on Legendary NFL Head Coach

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Meyer | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 10:18 AM ET

The Detroit Lions' preseason preparations continued Monday in Allen Park, Michigan as fans and media took stock of coach Dan Campbell's team ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Lions offensive coordinator John Morton was given the opportunity to share his perspective on the team, touching on key topics that have piqued his interest since being put in charge of one of the NFL's most talented units.

Morton dropped a surprising update on one of the most famous NFL head coaches in recent memory who has since become a social media star and was expected to visit the Lions.

"I'm also excited, you know, Jon Gruden's going to be here today, and he's been a big influence, mentor in my life, he's the one who got me started, and he's influenced a lot of other coaches too, so, I'm excited for him to be here the next couple days," Morton said Monday morning.

Morton has been with the Lions since 2022, when he joined Detroit as a senior offensive assistant.

He has previously served as passing game coordinator for the Denver Broncos and now has a chance to coordinate one of the NFL's most productive and explosive offenses following the departure of former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to Chicago.

The Lions open their preseason with a home game against Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday at Ford Field.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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