Kelvin Sheppard

Last updated

Kelvin Sheppard
Kelvin Sheppard.JPG
Sheppard with the Miami Dolphins in 2014
Detroit Lions
Position: Defensive coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1988-01-02) January 2, 1988 (age 37)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:249 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school: Stephenson (Stone Mountain, Georgia)
College: LSU
NFL draft: 2011  / round: 3 / pick: 68
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
  • Detroit Lions (2021)
    Outside linebackers coach
  • Detroit Lions (2022–2024)
    Linebackers coach
  • Detroit Lions (2025–present)
    Defensive coordinator
As an administrator:
  • LSU (2020)
    Director of player development
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:429
Sacks:3.0
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:1
Interceptions:2
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Record  at Pro Football Reference

Kelvin Anthony Sheppard (born January 2, 1988) is an American professional football coach and former linebacker who is the defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played in the NFL for 8 seasons. Sheppard played college football for the LSU Tigers and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 2011 NFL draft. [1] He was also a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions.

Contents

After retiring as a player, Sheppard pursued a coaching career, which he began as the director of player development at Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2020. Sheppard joined the Detroit Lions as their outside linebackers coach in 2021 and coached the linebackers from 2022 to 2024 before being named their defensive coordinator in 2025.

Playing career

National Football League

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+7⁄8 in
(1.88 m)		250 lb
(113 kg)		31+3⁄4 in
(0.81 m)		9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.70 s1.66 s2.76 s4.28 s7.25 s33.5 in
(0.85 m)		9 ft 2 in
(2.79 m)		22 reps
All values from NFL Combine/LSU’s Pro Day [2] [3]

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills selected Sheppard in the third round (68th overall) of the 2011 NFL draft. [4]

Indianapolis Colts

On April 29, 2013, Sheppard was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for Jerry Hughes. [5] He played in 15 games with seven starts in 2013, recording 46 tackles and one sack.

On August 30, 2014, Sheppard was released by the Colts. [6]

Miami Dolphins

On September 8, 2014, Sheppard signed with the Miami Dolphins. [7] In 2015, Sheppard played in all 16 games with 13 starts, recording a career-high 105 tackles.

New York Giants (first stint)

On April 11, 2016, Sheppard signed with the New York Giants. [8] He played in all 16 games, starting 10, recording 50 tackles and two passes defensed.

Chicago Bears

On August 18, 2017, Sheppard signed with the Chicago Bears. [9] He was released on September 2, 2017. [10]

New York Giants (second stint)

On November 7, 2017, Sheppard signed with the Giants. [11] Sheppard recorded his first and second career interceptions on December 31, 2017, during Week 17 when he picked off Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins twice. [12]

Detroit Lions

On October 31, 2018, Sheppard was signed by the Detroit Lions. [13]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsTDLngPDFFFRYdsTD
2011 BUF 1697046240.03000010100
2012 BUF 16158056242.03000010000
2013 IND 1574620261.03000010000
2014 MIA 141241770.01000001000
2015 MIA 161310575300.013000020000
2016 NYG 16115030200.00000020000
2017 NYG 764932170.0221701240000
2018 DET 715500.00000000000
107634292811483.025217012111100

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckTFLIntYdsTDLngPDFFFRYdsTD
2013 IND 2211380.00000000100
2016 NYG 100000.00000000000
3211380.00000000100

Coaching career

LSU

In March 2020, Sheppard was named director of player development at Louisiana State University. He replaced Kevin Faulk who held the position prior to Sheppard. [14]

Detroit Lions

On February 3, 2021, Sheppard was hired by the Detroit Lions as their outside linebackers coach under head coach Dan Campbell. [15] In 2022, Sheppard went from coaching the outside linebackers to the entire linebackers unit. On January 30, 2025, Sheppard was promoted to defensive coordinator, replacing Aaron Glenn, after his departure to become head coach of the New York Jets. [16]

Personal life

Sheppard is the first cousin of retired NFL wide receiver, Dwayne Harris. [17]

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References

  1. ↑ NFL Draft Scout
  2. ↑ "Kelvin Sheppard Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Kelvin Sheppard, DS #7 ILB, LSU". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  4. ↑ "2011 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 26, 2019.
  5. ↑ Rosenthal, Gregg (April 29, 2013). "Indianapolis Colts trade Jerry Hughes to Buffalo Bills". NFL.com.
  6. ↑ Wells, Mike (August 30, 2014). "Colts release former starter Kelvin Sheppard". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  7. ↑ Alper, Josh (September 8, 2014). "Dannell Ellerbe to IR, Dolphins sign Kelvin Sheppard". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  8. ↑ Salomone, Dan (April 11, 2016). "Giants sign LB Kelvin Sheppard; 5 things to know". Giants.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2016.
  9. ↑ Gantt, Darin (August 18, 2017). "Bears sign veteran linebacker Kelvin Sheppard". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  10. ↑ Mayer, Larry (September 2, 2017). "Bears reach NFL's 53-man roster limit". ChicagoBears.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018.
  11. ↑ Williams, Charean (November 7, 2017). "Giants sign Kelvin Sheppard". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  12. ↑ "Giants vs. Redskins: Postgame stats and notes". Giants.com. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Lions sign free agent LB Kelvin Sheppard". DetroitLions.com. October 31, 2018.
  14. ↑ "For Kelvin Sheppard, All Roads Lead Back to LSU". Lsusports.net. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Lions add Todd Wash, Seth Ryan, Kelvin Sheppard and Brian Duker to coaching staff". DetroitLions.com. February 3, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Lions announce offensive & defensive coordinator hires". Detroit Lions. January 30, 2025. Retrieved January 30, 2025.
  17. ↑ "New York Giants news, 4/12: Eli Manning ready to move on, more notes from Day 1". Big Blue View. Retrieved April 12, 2016.
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