Dan Campbell briefly interrupted Kelvin Sheppard’s media session Tuesday, playfully suggesting that Lions beat reporters were asking soft questions of the team’s new defensive coordinator. Before Campbell spoke, he had been observing Sheppard’s session as he passed by, grinning widely with clear pride.
About half an hour earlier, during his own media availability, Campbell revealed that he and former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn — now with the Jets — had been grooming Sheppard for this chance. For the last two years, they had been mentoring him and slowly increasing his responsibilities, knowing he was on a fast track to becoming a defensive coordinator.
Sheppard understands that it’s the belief in him that led to his promotion following Glenn’s departure. While he values that deeply, he said the confidence and trust shown by the Lions’ locker room — many of whom reached out to him after the promotion — means the most.
“That means the most to me. Honestly, and it’s no disrespect to anyone else, but the players are the most important to me because they’re the ones who perform,” Sheppard shared. “You can have all the philosophies and ideas you want, but it’s about them. Without their belief in me, I’ve got nothing.”
Sheppard is particularly close with defensive players like (Aidan Hutchinson), (Alex Anzalone), and (Malcolm Rodriguez), so it wasn’t a huge surprise when they reached out, though he was truly appreciative.
After Sheppard’s promotion, several Lions defensive players posted congratulations on social media, expressing excitement to work under their new coordinator. However, he was taken aback when players from the offensive side of the ball — whom he doesn’t interact with often — also reached out, including the starting quarterback, whom he didn’t even have contact information for.
“Jared Goff, a guy I didn’t even have his cell phone number, reached out,” Sheppard said, laughing. “He texted me, saying, ‘Hey, it’s JG.’ And I just replied, ‘What up?’ His outpouring of happiness meant a lot—he said he thought I deserved it, and he was excited. I told him how thrilled I was to have him as the quarterback on the other side.”
Sheppard also heard from players like (Amon-Ra) St. Brown, (Jameson Williams), David Montgomery, and (Jahmyr) Gibbs. Though those players don’t interact with him as much as the defensive players, it meant something special to him that they noticed his work.
“When the offensive guys see it from afar, it hits a little differently because they don’t interact with me as much as the Hutches and Anzo do,” Sheppard explained. “They know me well and are like, ‘That’s just Shep, he’s not worried.’ But for the offensive guys to notice and acknowledge my work, that really meant a lot.”