Kelvin Sheppard reveals that he turned down other offers to stay with the Lions.
Kelvin Sheppard had no shortage of options when it came to leaving the Lions, but his decision to remain was hardly surprising. After Aaron Glenn left to become the New York Jets’ head coach, Sheppard, the Lions’ linebackers coach, was the natural pick to take over as the team’s defensive coordinator. His promotion came quickly, and it wasn’t shocking considering his rising reputation as a coaching talent. From potentially following Glenn to New York to securing a defensive coordinator job elsewhere, Sheppard was a sought-after name in the league.
Sheppard has a deep connection with Dan Campbell, having played under him with the Miami Dolphins in 2014 and 2015 when Campbell was an assistant coach. Sheppard once shared that Campbell was among the first to encourage him to pursue coaching, seeing potential in him even as a player. In an interview with Dan Miller of Fox 2, Sheppard recalled how he had contemplated changing his hairstyle to better fit the traditional coaching image, but Campbell strongly advised against it, urging him to stay true to himself. This advice stuck with Sheppard, and he mentioned that until he became a head coach himself, he didn’t want to work under anyone else.
Sheppard also discussed how much Campbell’s trust and support have meant to him, emphasizing that it played a major role in his decision to stay with the Lions rather than accept another opportunity. “It means everything to me,” Sheppard shared. “That’s why I chose to stay here, no matter what other options came up. It would’ve been hard to leave.” He went on to recount how Campbell had once told him that, eventually, there would come a time when they couldn’t work together anymore, to which Sheppard joked about having a system where they could both be head coaches. “I owe so much to Dan. From the beginning, his belief in me as a player has carried through my coaching career,” Sheppard said.
The full interview with Sheppard, including his personal reflections and thoughts, was shared by Miller in a clip, offering more insight into their relationship.
