The Chicago Bears are focused on the postseason, but the success they had this campaign could lead to several coaches being plucked from the staff. The Bears may be tasked with filling in the gaps, and one coach with Ben Johnson ties could be a viable option for the Bears to consider.
On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions announced they are parting ways with offensive coordinator John Morton after just one season in the Motor City. Considering that Johnson is calling the plays for the Bears, adding Morton to the staff in a reduced role could be an intriguing option to think about.
John Morton May Be an Option for Bears to Consider
It wasn't the season that Morton expected to happen when he signed up for the job. After nine weeks, Lions head coach Dan Campbell took over the playcalling duties from Morton, as he wanted a spark for the unit.
With Morton calling the shots, the Lions were 5-3, averaging 28.8 points, along with 350.8 yards per game. When Campbell took over, the yards increased to 393.1, but the points dropped to 26.9 per game.
It's not like Morton wasn't able to get production out of the Lions offense, but there were things he could have done better. Morton appeared to have problems when it came to being the head of the offensive staff, though he could be a solid addition to an offensive staff that might be plucked at.
Declan Doyle is Chicago's offensive coordinator and seems like a legit a candidate for the Lions' opening. The next step in his coaching journey is calling plays, and he won't get that chance in Chicago. Meanwhile, other offensive assistants may be looked at for promotions as well around the league, which would create a need for new blood.
Considering both Morton and Johnson overlapped with the Lions, there's plenty of familiarity there. Morton's also made stops with the Raiders, 49ers, Saints, Jets, and Broncos, boasting a wide array of experience that'd be useful if Chicago needs to reload its staff.
There's also the fact that Morton's stock is at an all-time low, so Johnson could add an over-qualified candidate in a lesser role and at a possible discount. Those kinds of wins on the margins are potentially very valuable, like getting Al Harris as secondary coach when he's shown he's got the stuff to be a defensive coordinator.
Johnson is here to make the playcalls on gamedays, but adding another experienced offensive voice to the room, especially from a rival that found success, is an idea worth exploring. Especially since it'd give the Bears more recent intel on the Lions, who'll be gunning to knock off Chicago in 2026.