A familiar face for Dolphins fans may be set to return to the sidelines in Miami, but in a bit of a different role.
Reports on Monday indicate that the Dolphins have requested an interview with current Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard for their head coaching opening. Sheppard spent two seasons in Miami as a linebacker from 2014-2015.
Sheppard, who made 30 appearances and 14 starts during his two seasons with the Dolphins and racked up 129 tackles (14 TFLs) during that stint, is currently in his first season as Detroit’s defensive coordinator after serving four seasons as a linebackers coach with the franchise. The Lions finished the regular season with the 18th-best defense in the league, allowing 331 yards per game. Sheppard has also developed a reputation as a “beloved” coach among his players in Detroit.
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The Dolphins recently parted ways with former head coach Mike McDaniel after a four-season stint with the franchise following a 7-10 finish this season, marking his worst season yet with the organization and the second consecutive season missing the playoffs after Miami advanced to the Wild Card Round during his first two years with the franchise.
While Sheppard’s mixed results in his first season as a coordinator and his lack of experience as both a coordinator and a head coach mean he likely won’t end up a top candidate for the job, his ties to the franchise and rising reputation in the NFL make him an intriguing candidate to keep an eye on as this coaching search progresses.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Dolphins request HC interview with former Miami LB, current NFL DC