Two years ago, the Detroit Lions drafted Sam LaPorta as a chess piece for Ben Johnson’s offense. Now the play-caller is gone, defecting to Chicago.
LaPorta told Kay Adams on the Up & Adams Show from the NFLPA Classic golf tournament in Mexico that it stung watching his OC move to a rival.
“It hurts, of course,” he said. “You spend a lot of time with these people, invest a lot of energy and effort and hard work together. You know it’s mutual, you’re excited that he’s gonna run his own team and organization and have a lot on his plate. So, just very exciting times for him, and it is exciting times for us too as we turn towards our new staff and have a bright future as well.”
Losing Johnson was no surprise in Detroit. That the OC even returned for 2024 was a bit of a gift; there was little doubt he’d cash in the second go-around as the top offensive head coaching candidate. Going to a division rival, however, added extra juice.
“Of course, happy for Ben,” the tight end said. “He was one of the big reasons they brought me into the Lions. Nothing but respect for him, but again, on Sunday afternoons this fall, there will be friends turned to enemies.”
The Lions went outside the building to hire their new OC, bringing back John Morton, who worked as a senior assistant in Detroit in 2022 before two seasons in Denver as the passing game coordinator. As LaPorta joined the club in 2023, he’s just getting to know his new “fiery” offensive coordinator.
“I’ve sat down with Johnny Mo for maybe 10 or 15 minutes, I’ve gotten to know him personally,” LaPorta said. “But as a coach, it’s yet to be determined. We have a great future in front of us, we’re excited to work with each other, and I can’t wait to get working with him here in OTAs here shortly.”
League-wide OTA dates have yet to be announced, but the Lions and all teams with returning head coaches are eligible to begin offseason workout programs on April 21.