Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard is starting to draw national attention as a potential future head coach. NFL Network highlighted him on its annual list of emerging coaching candidates, noting that Sheppard has thrived since taking over after Aaron Glenn departed for the Jets last January. According to the network, his energetic leadership style and strong grasp of the broader strategic picture instantly stood out.

The Lions’ defensive performance has strengthened under Sheppard’s watch. With Aidan Hutchinson back anchoring the pass rush, Detroit’s unit has either matched or exceeded last season’s output in several key categories. Head coach Dan Campbell has been vocal in his belief that Sheppard is destined to run his own team sooner rather than later, calling him a natural fit for franchises searching for a leader cut from Campbell’s cloth.

Sheppard is the lone Detroit coach to appear on this year’s list. A season ago, former OC Ben Johnson was featured, and he has since guided the Chicago Bears to an impressive 7–3 mark in his debut season as a head coach—an endorsement of Detroit’s developmental environment.

Statistically, the Lions’ defense has been among the league’s most consistent through 10 games. They sit sixth in net yards allowed per pass (5.6), 11th in yards allowed per rush (4.0), fifth in total yards given up, and fourth in third-down defense (34.4%). Remarkably, they have yet to surrender a 300-yard passer or a 100-yard rusher in any game—a feat the franchise hasn’t achieved through 10 games since 1969.

All of this has happened despite Detroit missing several major contributors. Top corner D.J. Reed has been out since Week 4, Marcus Davenport hasn’t played since Week 2, Terrion Arnold has missed three contests, and safety Kerby Joseph has been sidelined for the last four. Even with those absences, the defense has remained one of the league’s most reliable units.

As Campbell increasingly focuses on calling the offensive plays, Sheppard has taken on even more responsibility. Campbell recently praised him, saying Sheppard has “earned that trust” and that the defensive group is “cooking right now.”

Sheppard has made no secret of his ambition to become a head coach, though he insists any future opportunities—such as the rumored connection to the opening at LSU, his alma mater—will come from his work in Detroit rather than lobbying for jobs. Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo even predicted before last year’s Super Bowl that Sheppard would eventually become an NFL head coach.

Sheppard’s coaching journey has been closely tied to Campbell’s. Sheppard played under Campbell when he was the Dolphins’ interim coach in 2015, and Campbell later gave him his first NFL coaching opportunity. Sheppard has said that observing Campbell as both a player and a coach has shaped his understanding of leadership and reinforced that there is no one he’d rather learn from.

With fewer young offensive play-callers emerging in today’s coaching cycles, teams may increasingly look to defensive coaches who can establish strong culture and player buy-in. If that’s the direction organizations choose, Sheppard stands out as one of the most intriguing candidates to monitor.