Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell faced the tough challenge of reshaping his coaching staff after coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn left for head coaching opportunities over the last few weeks.
Campbell has done a good job finding replacements for Johnson and Glenn, hiring John Morton as the offensive coordinator and Kelvin Sheppard as the defensive coordinator.
Morton is returning to the organization after spending the last two years as the passing game coordinator for the Denver Broncos. Meanwhile, Sheppard is getting his first opportunity to call the shots on defense after being the linebackers coach.
And one more time, our full interview with New @Lions Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard as well. Love the stuff in here on the teams young players and their potential for growth. https://t.co/ff5FhBHQmw https://t.co/QsdReUfY3E
— Dan Miller (@DanMillerFox2) February 17, 2025
In an interview with Dan Miller of FOX2 in Detroit on Monday, the first-time defensive coordinator revealed that he received other job offers, but stayed with the Lions because of Campbell.
"It means everything to me," Sheppard said of Campbell’s trust and support. "It’s the reason I chose to stay here over other opportunities. It would have been almost impossible to take another job."
The former NFL linebacker turned coach also detailed how Campbell supported him over the years as a player when they first met in 2014. The 37-year-old defensive coordinator also talked about his appreciation for Glenn, who became the head coach of the New York Jets.
“I’m deeply indebted to Aaron Glenn, deep, deeply. Dan was pushing for me wanted me on the staff, but it was AG who had to say okay,” Sheppard said.
It's not shocking to hear that Sheppard was getting calls from around the NFL, as the Lions have taken the league by storm. Anytime you have both coordinators leave, other teams around the league see that as an opportunity to poach from your coaching staff.
Thankfully, Campbell didn’t lose the first-time coordinator to another team. Instead, Sheppard will be tasked with building upon the foundation that Glenn has set over the years.
The next season will be quite interesting and different for the Lions as an entirely new staff is taking over outside of Campbell. Fans should expect some growing pains early on, but the hope is Sheppard can make the Lions’ defense one of the best in 2025.