Biography
John Morton enters his second season as pass game coordinator for the Denver Broncos in 2024. He was hired by the club on Feb. 25, 2023.
Morton, who has 21 years of NFL coaching experience across six clubs, joined the team after performing the role of senior offensive assistant with Detroit (2022) and Las Vegas (2019-21). His other NFL stops include stints with the Jets (2017), Saints (2006, '15-16), 49ers (2011-14) and Raiders (1997-2004).
John Morton enters his second season as pass game coordinator for the Denver Broncos in 2024. He was hired by the club on Feb. 25, 2023.
Morton, who has 21 years of NFL coaching experience across six clubs, joined the team after performing the role of senior offensive assistant with Detroit (2022) and Las Vegas (2019-21). His other NFL stops include stints with the Jets (2017), Saints (2006, '15-16), 49ers (2011-14) and Raiders (1997-2004).
With the Broncos in 2023, Morton oversaw a passing game that ranked tied for fourth in the NFL in interceptions (9), sixth in passer rating (96.7) and eighth in passing touchdowns (28). Denver's 65.7 completion percentage, 28 passing scores and 96.7 passer rating also were the highest marks by the club in a season since the 2014 season.
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton also benefited from Morton's pass game, recording one of the best seasons of his career in 2023. Sutton became the first Bronco since 2014 to record double-digit receiving scores in a single season and was also 1-of-6 players in the NFL in 2023 with at least 700 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns after recording 772 receiving yards on 59 catches (13.1 avg.) with 10 touchdowns.
In 2022, Morton was part of a coaching staff that helped the Lions rank Top-5 in numerous offensive categories, including fewest giveaways (15—1st), fewest sacks allowed (24—2nd), total offense (380.0 ypg—4th) and scoring (26.6 ppg—5th). Detroit produced five Pro Bowlers, with each player being a member of the offense.
Tight end T.J. Hockenson and center Frank Ragnow each garnered their second career Pro Bowl selection in 2022, while quarterback Jared Goff, tackle Penei Sewell and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown earned their first Pro Bowl honors.
Performing a similar role with Las Vegas from 2019-21, Morton helped the Raiders' offense produce the league's highest completion percentage (68.4) during that span. The unit also ranked Top-10 in passing plays of 25 yards or more (109—T-4th), passer rating (98.1—7th), net passing yards (12,710—7th), passing yards per game (271.4—7th) and completions (1,165—8th).
With Morton's help, quarterback Derek Carr produced the most prolific passing season by a Raiders quarterback in franchise history. He set a single-season club record with 4,804 passing yards in 2021 and was 1-of-4 quarterbacks (Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers) in the NFL with at least 4,000 passing yards in three-straight seasons from 2019-21.
In 2020, Morton helped oversee one of the most successful offensive campaigns in Raiders franchise history. While ranking Top-10 in many offensive categories, Morton assisted the unit in producing a 4,000-yard passer, 1,000-yard receiver and 1,000-yard rusher for the second consecutive season after becoming the first offense to do so in club history during his first year with the team in 2019.
Morton also tutored running back Josh Jacobs and tight end Darren Waller, each of whom earned Pro Bowl nods during his tenure. In 2020, Jacobs became the first rusher in franchise history to tally back-to-back seasons with at least 1,000 rushing yards to start his career, while Waller broke Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Tim Brown's team record for most receptions in a single season (107).
Prior to the Lions and Raiders, Morton spent the 2017 campaign with the Jets, serving as the team's offensive coordinator. With Morton at the helm, quarterback Josh McCown completed a career-high 67.4 percent of his passes, while wide receivers Robbie Anderson and Jermaine Kearse combined to record 128 receptions for 1,751 yards (13.7 avg.) with 12 touchdowns.
Before joining the Jets, Morton returned to New Orleans and worked as wide receivers coach for two years (2015-16) under Head Coach Sean Payton. He previously spent the 2006 campaign with the Saints and served as an offensive assistant/passing game coach.
In his time overseeing wide receivers in New Orleans, the team's wideouts combined for 507 receptions and 6,682 receiving yards. In 2016, the Saints boasted two 1,000-yard receivers in Brandin Cooks and Michael Thomas while Willie Snead IV totaled 895 receiving yards.
Preceding New Orleans, Morton coached four seasons for San Francisco (2011-14) and worked as wide receivers/passing game coach. During the four-year span, the 49ers compiled a 44-19-1 (.688) regular-season record, won two NFC West division titles, appeared three consecutive conference championships games and played in Super Bowl XLVII against Baltimore.
Under his guidance, wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree combined for three 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Boldin surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in consecutive seasons (2013-14) and posted 12 touchdowns, while Crabtree scored 18 times while being coached by Morton from 2011-14.
Ahead of his tenure with the 49ers, Morton worked for the University of Southern California for four seasons (2007-10) under head coaches Pete Carroll and Lane Kiffin. He spent his last two seasons (2009-10) as the Trojans' offensive coordinator/passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach after originally serving as a passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach (2007-08).
Morton's first run with the Saints came in 2006 when he was an offensive assistant/passing game coach. That season, the Saints won double-digit games and made the playoffs for the first time since 2000.
Entering the collegiate ranks for the first time in his career in 2005, Morton spent the season at the University of San Diego, performing the role of passing game/wide receivers coach on Jim Harbaugh's staff. He mentored quarterback Josh Johnson to program records in completions (260) and completion percentage (70.1).
The Raiders provided Morton with his first NFL personnel/coaching experience immediately following his playing career. He spent eight seasons with the organization (1997-2004) and was part of the coaching staff for seven of those years.
After beginning his Raiders tenure in football personnel in 1997, Morton went on to perform the role of offensive assistant/wide receivers (1998-99), offensive quality control/wide receivers (2000-01), senior offensive assistant/wide receivers (2002-03) and tight ends coach (2004).
Before joining the coaching fraternity, Morton entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 1993, where he spent time on the Raiders (1993-94) and Packers (1993) practice squads. He also competed in training camp with the Jaguars (1995) and Raiders (1996).
Following the NFL, Morton played two seasons (1995-96) for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts and World League's Frankfurt Galaxy (1997).
A native of Rochester Hills, Mich., Morton is a 1997 graduate of Western Michigan, where he played wide receiver for two seasons (1991-92). Morton received All-Mid-American Conference honors with the Broncos after spending two years at Grand Rapids (Mich.) Community College.
Morton has two daughters, Tierney Rose and Sage Marie.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Denver Broncos
Pass Game Coordinator 2023-24
Detroit Lions
Senior Offensive Assistant 2022
Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders
Senior Offensive Assistant 2019-21
Tight Ends 2004
Senior Offensive Assistant/Wide Receivers 2002-03
Offensive Quality Control/Wide Receivers 2000-01
Offensive Assistant/Wide Receivers 1998-99
Personnel 1997
New York Jets
Offensive Coordinator 2017
New Orleans Saints
Wide Receivers 2015-16
Offensive Assistant/Passing Game 2006
San Francisco 49ers
Wide Receivers/Passing Game 2011-14
University of Southern California
Offensive Coord./Pass Game Coord./WRs 2009-10
Passing Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers 2007-08
University of San Diego
Passing Game/Wide Receivers 2005