The Lions are looking within for their replacement of Aaron Glenn.
Detroit is promoting linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to become its new defensive coordinator, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Saturday, per sources.
Sheppard worked under Glenn as an LBs coach since the former DC's arrival in 2021. Glenn left Detroit to become the new head coach of the New York Jets following a successful four-year tenure that saw Detroit's rise.
The Lions defense figures to remain unchanged philosophically with a familiar coach at the helm. Under Sheppard's direction, linebackers Alex Anzalone, Malcolm Rodriguez and Jack Campbell have been sure-handed tacklers for a unit that exceeded expectations the past two seasons.
Detroit boasted a top-five defense during its breakout campaign in 2023, making it all the way to the NFC title game. The Lions went on to exceed expectations for different reasons in 2024, earning the NFC's No. 1 seed despite an injury-ravaged defense that saw several key players hit injured reserve, including Aidan Hutchinson, Marcus Davenport, D.J. Reader, Alim McNeill, Carlton Davis and several others.
Glenn managed to maintain a top-five ranked defense in 2024 despite it all, though the losses ultimately caught up with the Lions as they fell to the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round.
Like Glenn, Sheppard rose up the ranks as a former NFL player turned coach.
Drafted in the third round by Buffalo in 2011, Sheppard played eight seasons in the NFL as a linebacker, with stops in Indianapolis, Miami, New York and Detroit for his final campaign in 2018.
With Sheppard taking over the defense, Lions head coach Dan Campbell has one major hire left to round out his staff after offensive coordinator Ben Johnson's exit to become the Bears' new head coach.
