It's easy to call for a coach's job when things are going poorly, especially on one side of the ball, but those with pitchforks and torches often fail to answer an important question: Who would actually be the replacement?
Detroit Lions fans might be getting an answer when it comes to defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. Dan Quinn's seat is getting warmer by the day as the Washington Commanders' season goes down the drain.
If Quinn gets fired, he would immediately become one of the top defensive coordinator candidates on the market. If Sheppard wants to keep the Lions from pursuing Quinn as his replacement, he'll need to turn things around in a hurry.
Dan Quinn could be the Lions' perfect Kelvin Sheppard replacement
When the Lions' defense was at its best in the Dan Campbell era (circa 2024), it was known for its physicality and aggression. Aaron Glenn used as much man coverage as any coordinator in the NFL and blitzed at a high rate, daring opposing quarterbacks to make quick decisions and fit the ball into tight windows.
Sheppard hasn't exactly followed suit. He has been more conservative, leaning on two-high zone looks and reducing his blitzes. Some of this shift is due to the limitations of his personnel, but the shift in defensive identity has been easy to see. Even when he has blitzed, the coverage on the back end hasn't been good enough.
Quinn has historically been much more similar to Glenn in his philosophy. He doesn't call plays for the Commanders' defense currently. His most recent stint as a defensive coordinator ended in 2023 with the Dallas Cowboys, when his scheme mirrored that of Glenn's Lions in many ways.
Kelvin Sheppard's 2026 Lions defense | Aaron Glenn's 2024 Lions defense | Dan Quinn's 2023 Cowboys defense | |
|---|---|---|---|
Man coverage rate | 23.1% | 44.2% | 43.3% |
Blitz rate | 25.4% | 34.4% | 30.8% |
EPA per play | 0.12 (32nd) | -0.07 (8th) | -0.13 (4th) |
After the sharp downturn in Detroit's defense, Campbell may look to find a coordinator who fits aligns with Glenn's scheme more than Sheppard does. Quinn would be the most obvious choice available if he gets fired.
Kelvin Sheppard can still save his Lions job in key NFC North stretch
Sheppard isn't a dead man walking, at least not yet. His defense has held Detroit back so far this season, but he still has time to turn things around. As the Lions come out of their bye week, he has a chance to prove that he can make mid-season adjustments.
READ MORE: Dan Campbell makes an exciting admission about Penei Sewell's future with Lions
Over the next two weeks, the Lions play the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings. Both NFC North matchups will be crucial in the fight to return to the playoffs.
If Sheppard can adjust his scheme enough to shut down the Packers and Vikings, he can save his job. Packers quarterback Jordan Love has thrown multiple interceptions when pressured this year, so expect Sheppard to try to heat him up.
If Love and Kyler Murray are able to dice Sheppard's defense up, he might not last much longer.
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