Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Shepard will conclude his first year as an NFL coordinator on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, and it’s fair to say that the season hasn’t gone the way he had hoped. The Lions went from the seventh-best scoring defense (20.1 points per game) last year under Aaron Glenn to the 23rd-ranked defense (24.8 points per game). The biggest concern, however, is that Detroit really struggled when they needed their defense the most. In the final six games of the season, they allowed an average of 30.2 points per game, finishing with a 2-4 record.
During his final press conference of the season on Thursday, Kelvin Shepard was asked if the team needed to make any changes intense In 2026 his plans changed. As expected, Shepard stuck to his plan – noting that his strategy and philosophy are no longer based on strict rules or playstyle.
advertise
“No, I don’t see a huge change […] This league is about adaptability. You can have a system that you want, but it depends on what it takes to win the football game that week,” Shepard said. “That’s based on a lot of different variables. You talk about the offense you’re facing, you talk about the personnel you have available that week.
“There’s a lot of different variables and my job is – and I believe we’ve done that as a defense – thinking every week about how we can stop this offense. More importantly, what do we need to do to play complementary football and win this football game. I believe we have a very versatile system here and we’re able to adapt and adjust on the run. I believe not only myself but my staff and these guys have done a great job.”
Of course, Sheppard’s struggles on defense haven’t gone unnoticed. What particularly worries him is that the team’s defense has given up explosive plays all year. No team has allowed more plays of 30-plus yards all season long than the Lions, and that will be the first thing Shepard needs to figure out this offseason when he has time to do a full, comprehensive self-reconnaissance.
“The first thing I had to do was take out the dynamite because that’s not acceptable this year,” Shepard said. “We’re at the bottom of the league in that category, and to play at a high level defensively and offensively, the No. 1 thing is explosive gains in plays and the ability to minimize that. So, that’s No. 1. And then, what’s the reason for that? To me, I have different categories. Is it a schematic thing that happens when we get a schematic attack? OK. Is it a lack of understanding of the system?”
advertise
As for what he learned in his first year on the job, he admitted that it took him a while to master the flow of the game and make in-game adjustments.
“Honestly, what I’ve really learned is in the flow of the game, on the run you have to make adjustments. It’s like saying you’re going to make a game and, ‘This is what we’re doing.’ Well, you can’t be stubborn. What if you go into that game and it doesn’t work? You have time, but some things don’t It’s not going the way you like, so what? That’s what I’ve learned and the ability to articulate that to the players so they understand it’s not that we’re changing, but why we’re changing and how we need them to change as the game progresses.”
Earlier this week, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he wasn’t ready to make any firm decisions about the 2026 coaching staff, but he did praise Sheppard for the job he’s done with the team.
“I love Shep. Shep has really grown this year,” Campbell said. “I think for anybody who’s a first-time coordinator, first-time coach, you go through a lot. You learn along the way. You make adjustments. You find something that you believe in. You throw other things aside that aren’t working for you. You find a way to adjust, and that’s just part of the process. I think Shep does a really good job. You always learn something on the job, but I love Shep.”