The Detroit Lions knew Kelvin Sheppard was destined to become a defensive coordinator soon, so they began grooming him for the role early on.

Kelvin Sheppard’s rise to Detroit Lions defensive coordinator happened quickly, but don’t tell him his coaching journey is young.

“I keep hearing people say, ‘Still so young.’ And I respond, ‘What do you mean? Are we talking about my age or my experience in the profession I’m in?’ I’ve been doing this since I was five years old,” Sheppard said during the NFL Combine this week.

“If you mean my age, that’s a blessing because I could be doing this for another 30 years. But if we’re talking about football experience, I believe I’m just as knowledgeable as anyone in the field, even those who are 60 or 70 years old.”

While I understand Sheppard’s perspective, it’s still remarkable how quickly he has risen through the coaching ranks. His eight-year playing career—ending coincidentally in Detroit—is less than seven years behind him. In just four years in Detroit, he transitioned from his first coaching job as outside linebackers coach to defensive coordinator almost overnight.

Moreover, Sheppard showed significant progress in those early years, which caught the attention of head coach Dan Campbell. With the guidance of Aaron Glenn, they quickly put Sheppard on a path to eventually become defensive coordinator—without ever explicitly promising him the job in the future.

“About two years ago, I just felt like, ‘Man, this guy will be ready to be a coordinator sooner than later,’” Campbell said. “So, AG and I had talked about it and tried to give him more responsibility over the last two years.”

Sheppard elaborated on how that looked, particularly regarding game planning during this past season.
“I played a major role in first- and second-down game planning last year,” Sheppard said.

“That’s something AG assigned me for the 2024 season, and he made it clear why he did it. He didn’t have to do that. And just seeing the trajectory they had for me and their efforts to put me in a position to succeed—I had aspirations, but for others to notice and help you along the way, I owe everything to those guys.”

Sheppard will also lean on additional support along the way. Detroit’s defensive coaching staff includes two former NFL defensive coordinators (Jim O’Neil, Kacy Rodgers) and one from college football (David Corrao).

“They’ve done it (and) they’re open books… They’re not afraid to share their experiences and mistakes,” Sheppard said to Dannie Rogers this week. “Kacy Rodgers has been Todd Bowles’ right-hand man for 10 years, and people often overlook his role in Bowles’ brilliance. He’s already contributed immensely to our front-end plans. It’s been fantastic.”

Sheppard also mentioned mentors outside the Lions organization, like renowned coaches Lou Anarumo, Chuck Pagano, and Steve Spagnuolo, with whom he stays in constant contact.

A major challenge Sheppard faces in his new role is play-calling. While he never officially called plays under Glenn, he developed his own process during the week where he would replay games and call the plays based on the offensive formations—while encouraging his players to do the same.

“At first, I did it on my own in my free time, and then I began involving my players,” Sheppard explained. “I shared it with Dan, and he liked the idea. Then, Shaun Dion Hamilton started giving me feedback, saying, ‘I started doing this, Shep.’ By the end of the week, I was calling games myself just for fun. I believe in being prepared when the call comes, not waiting until then.”

Despite all the preparation and hard work that led him to this moment, Sheppard acknowledges how fortunate he is to be in this position, understanding that many of his peers his age don’t get such opportunities.

“Some guys spend 25 years in this profession and never get the chance I’ve had. I’m aware of that,” Sheppard said. “I’m extremely grateful. I believe I earned this, but you can put in the work and still not be in the position I’m in. So, I owe everything to Dan.”