Updated Jan. 12, 2026, 7:20 p.m. ET
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Miami Dolphins have requested an interview with Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard for the Dolphins‘ head coaching job.
Sheppard, 38, just completed his first season as Lions defensive coordinator. Detroit ended 2025 with the NFL’s No. 18 total defense (331.9 yards per game), with its No. 14 rushing defense (114.5 rushing yards per game) with its No. 20 passing defense (217.4 passing yards per game) and with its No. 22 scoring defense (24.3 points per game).
In 2025, Lions linebacker Jack Campbell just earned his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods and star edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson set a new career-high with 14.5 sacks.
Detroit’s defense suffered a series of back-breaking injuries, including to both of its starting safeties in Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. That hindered the Lions throughout its 2025 campaign, especially during Detroit’s stretch run.
Sheppard joined the Lions in 2021 as its outside linebackers coach and then served three seasons as the Lions linebackers coach before his promotion to defensive coordinator entering 2025.
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In 2024, Detroit boasted the NFL’s top third-down defense (32.4%) and the No. 2 fourth-down defense (41.4%). The Lions allowed just 20.1 points per game in 2024 to rank seventh in the league.
Sheppard has ties to the Dolphins’ organization, playing linebacker for Miami during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. During his time in Miami, Sheppard played in 30 games, made 14 starts and recorded 129 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and two pass deflections.
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