The Miami Dolphins confirmed on Monday, Jan. 19, that they interviewed Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard for the head coaching position.
As of Monday, Sheppard was one of nearly a dozen people interviewed for the position. Another person who was interviewed was Michigan native and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. For Sheppard, it would be a reunion for the first-year defensive coordinator, who played for Miami in the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
The Georgia native was hired by the Lions in 2021 as the outside linebackers coach. He emerged as a top candidate for the defensive coordinator position last year after Aaron Glenn was hired to coach the New York Jets.
The Lions were eliminated from playoff contention in the 2025 season and finished with a 9-8 record.
Sheppard, a 2011 NFL draft pick, was selected by the Buffalo Bills before playing for Indianapolis, Miami, New York and Detroit. He turned to a coaching career in 2020, serving as Louisiana State University’s director of player development.
The Lions are already working to find their next offensive coordinator after parting ways with John Morton last week. Morton joined the Lions ahead of the 2025 season after serving as the passing game assistant for the Denver Broncos.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins fired former head coach Mike McDaniel after four seasons. As of Jan. 12, the team interviewed Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak for the position, according to its website.
