Over four seasons on Dan Campbell's coaching staff, Kelvin Sheppard has had his responsibilities increase. He went from coaching inside linebackers in 2021 to coaching the entire room ahead of the 2022 season. This season, he's also working with specialized edge rushers.
As injuries have depleted the Lions' linebacking corps, Sheppard's coaching has been uniquely tested. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he gave credit to his assistant position coaches Shaun Dion Hamilton and Dave Corrao, as well as Aaron Glenn.
"I’m not some damn rocket scientist, I’m a football coach. But when you have guys, when I look to my right and I’ve got a guy like (Assistant Linebackers coach) Shaun Dion Hamilton who’s fully ready to run his own room as a linebacker coach," Sheppard explained. "I look to my left and I’ve got (Defensive Assistant/Outside Linebackers coach) Dave Corrao, who helps me with the edge guys, the OLB guys. And then I look in front of me and I’ve got Aaron Glenn. I’m all good. And then, I look behind me and we’ve got the players we brought in here."
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During 2023 minicamp, after reporters noticed him running defensive drills with linebackers and defensive backs, head coach Dan Campbell noted how more was being put on Sheppard's plate.
"Well, he’s earned that. He’s earned that,” Campbell said. “He’s – I feel like Shep, the more we put on Shep, the more he answers the call. And he’s developing as a coach. We see growth – no different than the players, you want to see growth from your coaches. And so, (DC Aaron Glenn) AG and I talked and we felt like it was time to put more on him, especially this year.”"
Kelvin Sheppard is ready for his opportunity to be a defensive coordinator
Glenn is lined up to be a top head coaching candidate in the 2025 hiring cycle. If he leaves for a head coaching job, Sheppard is easily atop the list of internal candidates to be the Lions' next defensive coordinator. Or, Glenn could take Sheppard with him as his defensive coordinator.
In any case, Sheppard will likely be a defensive coordinator very soon. On Wednesday he was directly asked if he's ready for that opportunity.
"Yes. I would be lying to you saying no. Absolutely, and that’s what happens here. It’s not just the players within in the building, but it’s the coaches as well. I’m very appreciative of the way Dan, Brad and A.G. have structured this thing to put you in leadership roles within your own right, within your room. As many times as A.G. allows me to speak in front of the entire defense, they don’t have to do those things," Sheppard continued. "I have friends that coach in other buildings, and I know they are not afforded those opportunities, so I don’t take them lightly."
It's not news that Campbell has built a terrific coaching staff. Sheppard is under the radar nationally compared to Glenn and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, but that is lined up to change soon.