Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell says Kelvin Sheppard looks much more comfortable and more in sync with the defense as he enters his second season as defensive coordinator.
Dan Campbell made Kelvin Sheppard one of his first assistant coach hires after taking over the Lions job in 2021. Two years later. Sheppard was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2025—and now. as he heads into his second season running Detroit’s defense. Campbell is seeing the kind of progress he wants to keep building on.
“There’s a year of experience running it all,” Campbell said, pointing to how Sheppard’s approach has changed after living through the full cycle of a season and practices. Relative to last year at this time, Campbell believes Sheppard has settled in fast.
“Relative to last year at this time, he’s just much more comfortable,” Campbell said. “I think he’s got a much better grasp of how he wants it to look.”
Campbell’s message is simple: Sheppard isn’t just calling plays now—he’s coaching the entire structure, from the details up front to the coverage and the back end. Campbell described that shift in responsibility as the difference between learning a system and seeing it.
“Now he’s coaching all 11. He’s coaching the front, he’s coaching the backers, and he’s coaching the back end. He sees it all,” Campbell said. “That’s what happens when you’re able to do it. you go through a season. you go through the practices. you diagnose yourself as a play caller and say. This is where we can get a little bit better.”.
That self-diagnosis, Campbell added, comes with the reality of a long NFL schedule—time on task, pressure, and the constant need to adapt. He tied Sheppard’s growth to working through corrections, adjusting to personnel changes, and handling injuries as they come.
“You can’t help to get better, whether you’re a head coach, OC, DC, special teams, with time on task, under pressure, making corrections, adapting to personnel, injuries, and he’s done all that. So I love where Shep’s at right now,” Campbell said.
A year ago. the Lions felt significant shakeups when defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left for head-coaching opportunities. Campbell’s view is that the impact was felt more on the offensive side. where he felt he needed to make a change. On defense. though. he says he still has the right coach for the job—and that Sheppard’s Year Two should bring even better results.
Campbell’s endorsement lands on a clear takeaway: for Detroit’s defense, continuity with an improving coordinator could be the difference between a scheme that’s merely understood and one that’s fully controlled.
Detroit Lions Dan Campbell Kelvin Sheppard defensive coordinator NFL news Year Two Aaron Glenn Ben Johnson
So he’s “more comfortable” now?? Cool cool.
I don’t really get it, Sheppard wasn’t already the DC? Like why is Year Two suddenly the big deal lol. Maybe the defense is finally gonna tackle??
Honestly Campbell always says stuff like this. “Coaching all 11” sounds nice but can they stop the run or not. Also I saw Aaron Glenn left, so I’m confused how that doesn’t mess everything up still.
Detroit always talks about scheme like it’s gonna magically click. Sheppard “diagnose himself” whatever that means, but injuries exist, and the defense last year looked lost at times. I feel like if they were really improving, they wouldn’t need all these quotes about being “in sync.”