The Detroit lions make an internal promotion to replace Aaron Glenn as a defensive coordinator.
Kelvin Sheppard goes from the post of coach of the seconds to the supervision of Dan Campbell’s defense, report Ian Rapoport and Mike Garofalo from NFL Network.
THE #Lions Promise the coach of the LB Kelvin Sheppard to the post of defensive coordinator, replacing Aaron Glenn, in my opinion and @Mikegarafolo.
A quick ascent for the eight -year -old veteran of the NFL, Sheppard obtains a job at DC in his third season only under Dan Campbell. pic.twitter.com/cm3m9ebqec
– Ian Rapoport (@rapsheet) January 25, 2025
Campbell clearly said after the season he thought that Glenn and former attacking coordinator Ben Johnson could be replaced by current staff. Glenn became the head coach of the New York Jets this week, while Johnson held the same position with the Bears in Chicago.
“It’s my job is to reconstruct and find the next man,” Campbell told journalists on Monday. “Is it a loss? Absolutely … But yet, guy, we advance, this train continues and I will find the next best for us.”
Although external candidates such as the former head coach of New Orleans, Dennis Allen, could have been considered, Sheppard was considered the favorite to assume the role of DC.
“It is a guy that I supervised so that he occupies the role of DC at some point,” Glenn told Dave Birkett Du Detroit Free Press in December. “And I think it is almost close if it is not ready to do that. And it is a damn good coach.
“It is fiery, everything you need as a secondary coach is him,” added Glenn. “And there are certain coaches in the staff who, I think, must be bulldogs and he is one of these coaches in this post, with line D, line O and the ball carrier. You must be a Fucking Bulldog and he is doing a good job. “
Sheppard, 37, has been with the Lions since 2021, first causing outdoor seconds, then supervising the entire unit in the last three seasons. He began his coach career as director of players development in LSU before joining the Staff de Detroit.
As a player, Sheppard won the All-Sec honors in LSU and was part of the 2007 Tigers BCS 2007 BCS Championship team. Recovered to the third round of the 2011 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills, he also played with the Indianapolis colts, the Dolphins of Miami, the Bears of Chicago, the Giants of New York and the Lions during his eight seasons .