Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard’s Job Not In Jeopardy

Plus, as Birkett observes, Campbell gave former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn a chance to find his footing after a difficult start to his own DC tenure. Glenn ultimately parlayed his time leading Detroit’s defense into a head coaching gig with the Jets, which paved the way for Sheppard’s promotion. The need for continuity among a coaching staff that lost both Glenn and former OC Ben Johnson in the same offseason was one of the reasons Sheppard got the job, but as Birkett also reminds us, Campbell had been grooming Sheppard for years.

Sheppard, who enjoyed an eight-year playing career, was part of Campbell’s first staff in 2021. He started as an outside linebackers coach that season and worked as the linebackers coach over the next three years under Glenn. Despite his forgettable debut as a DC, Sheppard may have been a finalist for the Dolphins’ head coaching post this offseason.

If the Lions do decide to move on from Sheppard at some point, Birkett does not believe former head coach Jim Schwartz would be a viable target. Though he is a highly-respected defensive mind, Schwartz – who left the Browns in February after Cleveland passed him over for its HC job – likely does not want to return to Detroit as an assistant.

While the Lions were named as a team to watch with respect to a possible Joey Porter Jr. trade, Birkett is skeptical Detroit will make a move for the disgruntled Steelers cornerback (despite his belief the club needs to bolster the secondary before the trade deadline). Pittsburgh is seeking valuable draft capital to move Porter, and an acquiring team would also have to authorize an extension near the top of the CB market. The Lions may have a great deal of newfound cap space thanks to several recent restructures, but they also have a number of lucrative contracts on their books already and are still seeking new deals for Branch and tight end Sam LaPorta.

In Birkett’s view, a second contract for LaPorta could be finalized in the near future.