Look, we all love Dan Campbell’s fire, his grit, and that unmistakable coaching swagger he brings every Sunday. But after the Detroit Lions’ disheartening 16–9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 16, it’s crystal clear: Campbell needs to hand the offensive play-calling back to someone else, preferably John Morton.

Yes, I said it. And as someone who has watched the Lions’ offense sputter through another high-stakes matchup, I’m convinced Campbell’s decision to grab the reins has blown up in his face.

From Spark to Smash-up for the Detroit Lions

Earlier in the season, Campbell quietly seized play-calling duties from first-year offensive coordinator John Morton. After back-to-back offensive disappointments, including a stinging loss to Minnesota, Campbell said, “Let’s try something a little different.” He insisted it was a team effort, noting that he still leaned on Morton and other coaches for input, according to the NFL.

That gamble paid off in Week 10. Against the Washington Commanders, the Lions piled up an eye-popping 546 yards, scored on eight straight possessions, and cruised to a 44–22 win. The offense looked like the unit fans had been craving, physical, explosive, creatively balanced. Jahmyr Gibbs ran for 142 yards. Jared Goff threw for 320. The o-line looked like it believed. Campbell, donning his sideline glasses, dialed up a dominant performance.

But Then Reality Checked In

Fast forward to Nov. 16. Against Philadelphia, a defense that isn’t exactly sipping lemonade on the sideline, the Lions’ offense failed to make the spark last. The unit seemed disjointed, stagnant, unable to adjust or impose its will. That’s not just bad luck, that’s a symptom.

Campbell, a head coach first and play-caller second, doesn’t have the bandwidth to do both at a championship level. Calling plays demands full attention: you need to read the defense, sense momentum shifts, and adjust on the fly. That’s a coordinator’s job. Knowing the players’ strengths, that’s Campbell’s domain. But when the game tightens up, and adjustments and nuance become critical, the head coach juggling both roles shows cracks.

History Isn’t on His Side

This isn’t Campbell’s first play-calling rodeo. Back in 2021, he stripped duties from then–offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn after a brutal 44–6 loss to these very Eagles. That move sparked some glimmer of life, but ultimately, it didn’t lead to long-term stability until the Ben Johnson era. And don’t forget, Campbell himself admitted after the Washington game that he “wasn’t perfect” calling plays, and that Jared Goff bailed him out on a few.

So yes, he’s done it before, and sometimes it lights a fire. But he also knows it’s not a clean, long-term fix unless properly supported by a strong coordinator.

Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator John Morton Was Never the Problem

Now, to be fair, John Morton handled his demotion, or reassignment, with class. He publicly backed Campbell’s takeover, saying he supports whatever helps the team win. He insisted he remains involved in shaping the offense, especially in the passing game.

And yet, after the loss to the Eagles, it’s impossible to ignore, under Campbell’s play-calling, the offense felt brittle. There was an absence of rhythm, the kind of flow the Commanders game teased but the Eagles matchup exposed. Some of the most glaring issues, lackluster third-down conversions, predictable looks, failure to impose the ground game, are problems Morton was at least partially tasked to address.

Maybe Morton isn’t perfect. Maybe he hasn’t been the flashiest OC, but the players clearly responded better when he stayed involved in the broader game plan. In other words, his fingerprints were on the offense even before his sideline mic was removed.

Why Campbell’s Dual Role Is a Problem

Here’s the bottom line: Campbell is not a pure offensive strategist, nor should he pretend to be. He is a motivator, a culture-builder, a heart-and-soul coach. But on game day, while he’s fighting to manage the entire team, calling plays takes him away from being just a coach.

His aggressiveness, usually an asset, can become a liability. Without a dedicated coordinator, the offense lacks a second set of eyes, someone whose only job is to dissect defenses and plan matchups. When things go wrong, Campbell has fewer layers to lean on for creative fixes.

Against the Eagles, that showed. The lack of adjustments, the inability to read Philly’s looks and respond, the failure to stick to some of the strengths that worked against Washington, they all pointed to a scheme and a play-caller stretched too thin.

What Should Happen Next

Here’s what I think the Lions need to do, and fast:

1. Return play-calling duties to Morton. Give him back the sideline mic, let him run the offense, and free Campbell to coach the game, not call it.
2. Empower Morton but demand accountability. He needs to earn his stripes by showing creativity, urgency, and adaptability.
3. Let Campbell coach. He should be the philosopher, the motivator, the tone-setter, not the one holding the play sheet every snap.
4. Rebuild trust with the offense. Players responded when things flowed under Campbell calling, but instead of forcing that role, let the call sheet reflect a true partnership.

This isn’t just about egos. The Lions are still in the playoff hunt, or at least they were. Losses like the Eagles game, in tight division battles, are costly. They matter. Choosing long-term stability over a short-term spark is exactly what playoff-caliber teams do.

And leadership matters. Campbell’s heart is undeniable. But coaching, especially in the NFL, is part art, part science. He needs to decide: does he want to be the offense, or lead it? Because so far in this experiment, trying to do both feels like a gamble he’s not winning.

Please Let John Morton Do His Job, Dan

I get why Campbell grabbed the playbook. He wanted to shake things up. He wanted to resurrect the identity we all fell in love with, a tough, physical, high-momentum Lions offense. And against the Commanders, for one glorious Sunday, it worked.

But one game doesn’t make a system. The Eagles loss was a wake-up call, the dual role is breaking the rhythm, exposing flaws, and putting far too much on Campbell’s already broad shoulders.

Dan Campbell should hang up the play-calling glasses, turn the offense back over to Morton, and let himself be the coach we know he can be. Because calling every play isn’t his strength, inspiring his team, building a culture, and lighting a fire, that’s his. And right now, the Lions need to let him do just that.