The Detroit Lions had such talented coordinators over the past few seasons that both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn left for NFL head coaching jobs in 2025. Now, a prestigious college program may already want one of their replacements.
Lions first-year defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, who took over for Glenn this year after he left to lead the New York Jets, spoke with media members on Thursday, October 30, about the job opening at LSU (Louisiana State). The Tigers recently fired former head coach Brian Kelly, and their search for a new lead man is currently a dominant story across the college football landscape.
A reporter noted that analysts have connected Sheppard to the blue-blood SEC program and asked the Detroit DC if that position is one he would take.
“I can’t be interested in something I have no idea about,” Sheppard responded. “I’m interested in beating the Minnesota Vikings. I’m tasked with another Tiger this week in Justin Jefferson, since we on a Tiger conversation, and that’s a tall one. He’s one of the LSU greats.”
“I’m interested in seeing us come off this bye week and stop cutting ourselves short,” Sheppard continued. “It’s time to make this final push, and it starts with us limiting points.”
Kelvin Sheppard Speaks About LSU Program With Reverence
GettyDetroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard.
Sheppard’s comments indicated that no one has reached out to him about the LSU head coaching position, at least not yet, and that he hasn’t been proactive in seeking it out.
However, he also spoke glowingly of the program, saying he keeps up with it regularly and crediting LSU for shaping him as a person.
That place molded me into the man that I am today, and [am] still becoming. You cut me open, I’m a liger. I think that’s what they all it — half lion, half tiger. That school expects championships, and they should. We hoisted a trophy when I was there. They hoisted one after I left there.
The standard down there, just like we’ve created the standard here — through hard work, through what you put out there — is championships. It’s not just being around, it’s not being competitive and it’s not winning. We should win. That’s what we put ourselves in position to do over the course of time. It’s championships.
And that school deserves that, and that fan base deserves that. And I know that the people down there in place will make sure that happens moving forward.
Kelvin Sheppard Played for LSU, Lions During Football Career
GettyDefensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard of the Detroit Lions.
Sheppard played four seasons at LSU between 2007-10, appearing in 53 games and tallying 311 tackles, including 26 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, 5.5 sacks and two interceptions.
He went on to enjoy an eight-year NFL career, playing in 107 games and earning 63 starts across stints with the Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants and played his final year in 2018 as a member of the Lions.
Sheppard served as Detroit’s outside linebackers coach in 2021 before moving into the job of linebackers coach between 2022-24.
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