The Detroit Lions have dismissed offensive coordinator John Morton after an up-and-down 2025 season. The Lions finished fourth in the NFC North with a 9-8 record, missing the postseason.
The season also saw play-calling duties being shifted to head coach Dan Campbell, who will now have to search for a new OC to lead Jared Goff & Co.
Top 5 Potential OC Candidates to Join Dan Campbell’s Staff
- Mike McDaniel
Mike McDaniel was fired by the Miami Dolphins to begin this year. He has already interviewed for the job on Tuesday.
According to Fox NFL reporter Greg Auman, McDaniel will be interviewed for the position of Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator on Friday. He also mentions that McDaniel will prefer a better offensive coordinator position than “a not-great head coaching vacancy.”
2. Zac Robinson
The Lions will reportedly interview Zac Robinson for the offensive coordinator vacancy. The former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator will fly down to Detroit for the interview on Thursday.
As the Falcons’ offensive coordinator in the last two seasons, the franchise ranked 13th (22.9 points per game) and 20th (20.8 points per game) in the league. Under his guidance, running back Bijan Robinson racked up 2,298 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns to earn a place in the first-team All-Pro.
3. Jake Peetz
According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, the Lions will also interview Seattle Seahawks pass-game coordinator Jake Peetz for the offensive coordinator role. Peetz came to Seattle in 2024. Previously, he served as an offensive assistant during his time with Jacksonville, Washington, the Raiders, and Carolina.
4. Tee Martin
Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks coach Tee Martin is another reported candidate who had already interviewed for the OC position on Monday. Martin is known for his work as Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown’s position coach at USC in 2018. Moreover, his NFL experience makes him a serious candidate for the job.
5. Arthur Smith
The Lions formally requested to interview Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. While he’s also rumored to be a candidate for different head coach vacancies, if nothing happens in that search, he will continue as offensive coordinator.
Read More News:
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in baseball, tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
