Detroit Lions new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard: What to know
The Lions promoted linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator. Sheppard, 37, joined Dan Campbell’s initial Lions staff as outside linebackers coach in 2021 and has overseen the entire unit the past three seasons.
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone received a $250,000 raise, bringing his base salary to $6.25 million.Anzalone’s total salary is now fully guaranteed, and he can earn an additional $750,000 in playtime bonuses.The linebacker expressed disappointment with his contract earlier this offseason and skipped spring workouts.
The dollar amount and long-term commitment may have been less than what he was seeking. But Alex Anzalone received a slight pay bump in the final year of his contract, a league source confirmed.
The Detroit Lions linebacker, who was scheduled to make a $6 million base salary this season, was given a $250,000 raise. The total amount was also fully guaranteed. Anzalone had $100,000 in per-game roster bonuses and $150,000 in not-likely-to-be-earned incentives already written into his pact with the club. But he can now earn an extra $750,000 in playtime bonuses.
Anzalone, who is set to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, arrived at training camp earlier in July unhappy with his contract situation after angling for a new deal throughout the offseason.
“I’m disappointed, I’ll just say that,” he said July 22. “I’m disappointed.”
Anzalone made his feelings known by skipping the Lions’ formal workout program in the spring, which spawned questions about whether he would rejoin the team for training camp. Anzalone did show up, but he missed the first five days of practice after hurting his hamstring during a conditioning test.
Anzalone, who will turn 31 in September, has been a team captain and one of the core members of the defense ever since he arrived in Detroit four years ago.
During his Lions tenure, he has contributed 395 tackles, 6½ sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble.
“You guys know how I feel about Alex, how we feel about Alex,’ coach Dan Campbell said recently. “He’s one of our dudes, man, we’ve leaned on him, he’s a productive player.”