One of the exciting times within the NFL season is the head coaching cycle. It’s a time for coordinators to go for head coaching spots and a chance for position coaches to become coordinators. However, one of the down parts about being a fantastic team is that your coordinators are more than likely to leave. We just saw it with the Detroit Lions, who lost Ben Johnson to the NFC North rival Chicago Bears, and Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets.
The Buffalo Bills were starting to get close to losing offensive coordinator Joe Brady, up until it was reported that he withdrew himself from the New Orleans Saints’ process to stay in Buffalo. However, not every team is so lucky like the Bills.
The Lions are going under a brand new revamp of their coaching staff. They lost both of their coordinators, as well as their defensive line coach Terrell Williams to the New England Patriots. Even though they have lost a great amount of coaching, they promoting within, and it involves a former player of the Bills. With the Lions losing Glenn to the Jets, they have decided to promote Kelvin Sheppard to run the defense from his LBs coach position, per Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
Lions promote former Bills linebacker Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator
The #Lions are promoting LBs coach Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator, filling the shoes of Aaron Glenn, per me and @MikeGarafolo.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 25, 2025
A quick rise for the eight-year NFL veteran, Sheppard earns a DC job in only his third season under Dan Campbell. pic.twitter.com/cM3m9ebqEc
The Bills drafted Sheppard in the 3rd round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of LSU. In two short seasons with the Bills, Sheppard recorded 150 total tackles and two sacks. Prior to the 2013 season, the Bills traded Sheppard to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for defensive end Jerry Hughes. The Bills clearly won that trade as Hughes went on to become a defensive leader for the Bills while Sheppard lasted just one season with the Colts.
Before his playing days ended, Sheppard also spent time with the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, and the Detroit Lions.
Sheppard was hired by the Lions to help with the linebackers in 2021 and the fact that he has been promoted to the defensive coordinator position just shows how well he is trusted by Dan Campbell. The Lions are going into a big change on their coaching staff and seeing a former Bill work his way up to coordinator status is awesome to see.