By Moses Joshua 
Detroit’s rising defensive architect is drawing serious head-coaching interest as Miami steps into the picture
The Detroit Lions’ coaching staff continues to turn heads around the NFL, and the latest name gaining real traction is defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. What once looked like a long-term building block for Detroit’s defense has now become a league-wide talking point, as an AFC team prepares to take a closer look at one of football’s fastest-rising young coaches.
According to reports, Sheppard’s rapid ascent has officially reached the interview stage — and the implications could be significant for both Detroit and a franchise searching for its next leader.
Miami Takes the First Step
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Miami Dolphins are scheduled to conduct an in-person interview with Sheppard on Monday morning for their head coaching vacancy. The meeting represents the Dolphins’ first face-to-face evaluation of the Lions’ defensive coordinator and signals more than casual interest.
The connection is not entirely new. Sheppard spent two seasons with Miami as a player from 2014 to 2015, giving the organization firsthand familiarity with his professionalism and football intelligence. That history could play a role as the Dolphins weigh candidates capable of reshaping their culture and competitiveness.
For Sheppard, the interview marks a remarkable milestone — a jump from rising assistant to legitimate head-coaching candidate in just a few seasons.
A Rapid Climb Through Detroit’s Ranks
Sheppard’s coaching résumé has been built quickly, but deliberately. After retiring from an eight-year NFL playing career, he transitioned into player development, including a stint as LSU’s Director of Player Development in 2020.
Detroit brought him aboard in 2021 as outside linebackers coach. Within a year, he was promoted to linebackers coach, and by 2025, Dan Campbell entrusted him with the defensive coordinator role — making Sheppard one of the youngest coordinators in the league.
Under Campbell, Sheppard developed a reputation for intensity, accountability, and teaching detail. His defensive units reflected that identity, playing fast and physical while buying into the broader culture Detroit has worked to establish.
What This Means for the Lions
For the Lions, Miami’s interest is both validating and unsettling. Sheppard is widely viewed as a core piece of Detroit’s long-term defensive vision, and his leadership has been central to the unit’s growth during the team’s Super Bowl window.
Another coordinator departure would force Detroit to recalibrate once again, even as expectations remain sky-high. At the same time, Sheppard’s rise reinforces the Lions’ growing reputation as a breeding ground for elite coaching talent.
Whether Miami’s interest turns into an offer remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that Kelvin Sheppard is no longer just a promising assistant — he is officially on the NFL’s head-coaching radar, and the Lions may soon find themselves defending more than just points on Sundays.