The Detroit Lions are focused on this Sunday’s matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, but you couldn’t blame defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard if his mind were somewhere else. One of the fastest-rising assistants in the NFL, Sheppard’s name surprisingly entered the college ranks when his alma mater, LSU, fired head coach Brian Kelly on Sunday.
Sheppard’s no-nonsense approach and experience building a culture under Dan Campbell seem to be a perfect fit for the job, and some alumni have already vouched for the school to bring Sheppard back to Baton Rouge. While it seems like a long shot, Sheppard didn’t do much to kill the speculation on Thursday by telling Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network, “Cut me open and I’m a Liger” referring to the two feline mascots that represent the two teams.
When reporters followed up on Sheppard’s creation of a new mythical beast by asking him if he would be interested in the LSU job, Sheppard said the school had not contacted him about the opening and attempted to calm the waters.
“I can’t be interested in something I have no idea about,” Sheppard continued via ESPN’s Eric Woodyard. “I’m interested in beating the Minnesota Vikings.”
Kelvin Sheppard’s Comments Hint He’d Listen if LSU Came Calling
While Sheppard didn’t fully pledge his interest in the LSU job, he didn’t exactly say he wouldn’t pick up the phone if they called. A linebacker who appeared in 53 games for the Tigers, Sheppard collected 311 total tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and four sacks during his four seasons with the team. He went on to play eight seasons in the NFL and has since risen through the coaching ranks after joining Dan Campbell’s staff in 2021.
Sheppard’s candidacy makes sense, but his resume does not. He has no previous head coaching experience and would be joining a school that fired its head coach after posting a 34-14 (.708 winning percentage) record over four seasons. Joining the Tigers would also potentially burn a bridge toward returning to the NFL and could require him to bail on the Lions in the middle of their push to a Super Bowl.
If LSU wants to wait, reaching out to Sheppard makes sense. But even if they want to conduct a thorough search, the possibility that he wouldn’t be done with his Lions duties until mid-February doesn’t seem appealing for a job that requires constant recruiting and maintenance.
That being said, Sheppard is correct to maintain his focus on the Vikings and the rest of the Lions' schedule that is laid out for him. But his comments left the door open just enough to let LSU know that he would be interested – even if he didn’t say it point-blank on Thursday morning.