The New York Jets have reportedly hired the Detroit Lions’ tight ends coach to join new head coach Aaron Glenn’s staff.
According to NFL Network, the Jets have reached an agreement with Steve Heiden to serve as their new offensive line coach.
Meanwhile, Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand remains the frontrunner to become the Jets’ next offensive coordinator.
In Detroit, the Lions have appointed John Morton as their new offensive coordinator, entrusting him with one of the league’s most dynamic offenses over the past three seasons.
Morton, who previously worked with the Lions in 2022, played a key role in implementing many aspects of the offensive scheme that flourished under former coordinator Ben Johnson. A well-traveled coach, Morton draws influence from some of the NFL’s top minds, including Jon Gruden, Sean Payton, and Jim Harbaugh.
Gruden, a Super Bowl-winning head coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spoke highly of Morton during a recent interview with the Detroit Free Press.
> “I hope Detroit gets him. I know there are other teams trying to land him, and I know Denver doesn’t want to lose him. But … if you can add Johnny Morton, that’d be a good reason to go have a glass of cabernet, the best one you’ve got.”
Morton’s connection with Gruden dates back to his first coaching job with the Oakland Raiders in 1998, where he worked under Gruden until the coach was traded before the 2002 season. The two later reunited in 2019 with the Raiders, remaining together until Gruden’s resignation in 2021.
While Gruden acknowledged Detroit’s loss of Johnson, he expressed strong confidence in Morton’s abilities to lead the offense.
> “I know they lost a heck of a coach, but John Morton, you talk about a guy that can scheme them up. Man, he’s at the top of the food chain in terms of the guys I’ve worked with.”
