BREAKING NEWS: Lions Dan Campbell promotes another devoted staff member to defensive coordinator…

The Detroit Lions have apparently filled one of their coordinator positions. According to the NFL Network, the team intends to promote linebacker coach Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator. Sheppard will succeed Aaron Glenn, who was named as the New York Jets’ new head coach.

“Having Shep there with me, he’s been there from the beginning, and he knows exactly how I think—exactly,” Glenn remarked about Sheppard in December. “And that’s a man I’ve been coaching to take on the DC role at some point. I believe he is almost, if not quite, ready to do so. He’s a really good coach.”

Sheppard was considered the front-runner for the role, as we noted in our 10 options to replace Glenn at DC, having been on coach Dan Campbell’s staff since the start of his career and fast taking on new coaching and organizational responsibilities.

Sheppard, who played linebacker in the NFL for eight years, provides a wealth of experience and intellect to the Lions’ defensive staff. Over the last four years, Sheppard has earned the trust of both players and coaches with his no-nonsense approach to coaching, which awards players based on their performance on the field.

The Lions’ former defensive plan required a lot from their linebackers, including memorizing all components of the defensive scheme/play calls and making appropriate adjustments on the field. They must coordinate with the defensive line and secondary, and Sheppard has done an excellent job of ensuring that his linebackers are adequately prepared to face these obstacles.

At his end-of-season press conference, Campbell stated that he wanted to be able to maintain the team’s key beliefs, which Sheppard will undoubtedly be able to do.

“I don’t see philosophy changing,” Campbell stated. “I believe we are who we are, and we have been that way since I have been here. So, does this indicate that a few things will be changed? A few things will be modified, such as the type of new coordinators. I want to play man (coverage), and so do we. I’m going to apply a little pressure. So, these things will not go away; we are who we are.

Multiple sources on the Lions beat have confirmed Sheppard’s employment.