Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard speaks with media members covering the Lions at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.Kelvin Sheppard speaking at NFL Combine.
INDIANAPOLIS — Dan Campbell briefly interrupted Kelvin Sheppard’s media session Tuesday, joking that Lions beat reporters were lobbing softball questions at his new defensive coordinator.
Before Campbell even spoke, the Lions coach had been peeking into Sheppard’s session as he walked by, flashing a wide grin that radiated pride.
About 30 minutes earlier, during his own media availability, Campbell shared that he and former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn — now with the Jets — had been preparing Sheppard for this opportunity.
For the past two years, they had been mentoring him, gradually increasing his responsibilities, knowing he was on the fast track to becoming a defensive coordinator.
Sheppard understands that belief in him is why he was promoted following Glenn’s departure. And while it means the world to him, he said the confidence and trust from the Lions’ locker room — many of whom reached out after his promotion — mean everything.
“That means the most to me. I’m going to be honest, and it’s no slight to anybody else, but the players mean the most to me by far because that is who goes out and does it,” Sheppard said. “You could say what you want. We could have all these philosophies and narratives and all this, but it’s about them. And if you don’t have the belief in them, I don’t have anything, to be honest with you.