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Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard has quickly emerged as one of the most promising young coordinators in football. As a result, Sheppard has quickly emerged as a name to watch in the LSU Tigers head coaching search, given his ties to the program as a player. Prior to Sheppard’s eight-year NFL career, the former linebacker starred collegiately in Baton Rouge as a player, playing a key role in LSU’s 2007 National Championship-winning team. Following his NFL career, Sheppard sparked his coaching career by returning to his alma mater as LSU’s football program’s director of player development before entering the NFL coaching ranks under Dan Campbell in Detroit. Since his coaching tenure started in Detroit, Sheppard has quickly risen up the ranks. Now, he finds himself in a position to potentially be up for a major promotion, whether that be an NFL head coaching opportunity or a collegiate head coaching opportunity in the near future. Given the timing of Brian Kelly’s firing at LSU and Sheppard’s rise in status as an NFL coach, the former Tigers star has been linked in rumors to his former program as a potential candidate to replace Kelly as the next head coach in Baton Rouge. GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 7: Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard of the Detroit Lions on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on September 7, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images) More news: Bills Dealt Major Warning on Struggling Starter Ahead of Chiefs Game However, according to Sheppard, he has yet to hear from higher-ups at LSU about the coaching vacancy. Additionally, Sheppard claims that he is solely focused on his responsibilities in Detroit for the time being. “I can’t be interested in something I have no idea about,” said Sheppard. “I am interested in beating the Minnesota Vikings. I am tasked with another Tiger this week in Justin Jefferson, since we are on the Tiger conversation. That’s a tall one, he is one of the LSU greats. “So that is what I’m interested in. I am interested in seeing us come off this bye week and stop cutting ourselves short of the potential, I believe, of who we can be as a defense and as a team. It’s time to make this final push. And it starts with us limiting points.” Detroit Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard responds to his connection to the LSU Head Coach Opening 👀“I can’t be interested in something I have no idea about.” pic.twitter.com/Zrp4PYQ9uS— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) October 30, 2025 More news: Colts’ Jonathan Taylor Gets Strong Endorsement From Hall of Fame RB On the bright side for LSU fans potentially interested in a reunion for Sheppard, the former Tigers star didn’t exactly say that he wasn’t interested if the opportunity is offered to him. Though for the time being, it seems as if he is fully dedicated to the Lions. At the end of the day, the better the Lions’ defense looks under Sheppard, the more buzz there will likely be around him as a potential head coaching candidate down the road. For more on the Detroit Lions and all things around the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.
