Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard is staring at a problem that could get a lot bigger if Dan Quinn’s situation in Washington collapses the way it appears to be trending.
That’s the uncomfortable part for Detroit: when a coordinator struggle becomes obvious, the next question is always who could replace him. Quinn is starting to look like a real answer.
If the Commanders move on from Quinn, he would immediately jump near the top of the market for defensive coordinator jobs. And if Sheppard wants to keep the Lions from looking his way, he needs a fast turnaround.
The fit is easy to see. When Detroit’s defense was rolling at its best in the Dan Campbell era, especially in 2024, it was built on physicality and pressure. Aaron Glenn leaned hard into man coverage and blitzing, forcing quarterbacks to make fast decisions and thread the ball into tight spaces.
Sheppard has gone in a different direction. His defense has been more cautious, with more two-high zone looks and fewer blitzes.
Some of that comes down to the roster, but the identity shift has still been obvious. And when Sheppard has brought pressure, the coverage behind it hasn’t been sharp enough.
Quinn’s background lines up much more closely with Glenn’s. He isn’t currently the play-caller for Washington’s defense, but his last run as a defensive coordinator came in 2023 with the Dallas Cowboys, and that scheme had a lot in common with Glenn’s Lions units.
Kelvin Sheppard's 2026 Lions defense
Aaron Glenn's 2024 Lions defense
Dan Quinn's 2023 Cowboys defense
Man coverage rate
23.1%
44.2%
43.3%
Blitz rate
25.4%
34.4%
30.8%
EPA per play
0.12 (32nd)
-0.07 (8th)
-0.13 (4th)
That gap matters. After Detroit’s defense took a hard step backward, Campbell could decide he wants someone who better matches the aggressive shape Glenn brought to the unit. If Quinn is available, he would be the clearest option.
Still, Sheppard is not out of time yet.
The Lions are coming out of their bye week with a real chance to steady the ship, and the next two games could say plenty about where this is headed. Green Bay and Minnesota are up next, and both NFC North matchups carry weight in the push to get back to the playoffs.
If Sheppard can use that stretch to make real adjustments and slow down the Packers and Vikings, he can help buy himself more room. Jordan Love has thrown multiple interceptions when pressured this year, which should give Sheppard a clear place to attack.
But if Love and Kyler Murray keep carving up his defense, the leash may not be long for much longer.
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Dan Campbell Sees Something Even Scarier In Penei Sewell
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That is what makes Sewell such a fascinating piece of Detroits foundation. He is already a four-time Pro Bowler and three-time NFL All-Pro, yet both he and Campbell see more improvement ahead, and Sewell has pointed to his daily battles with Aidan Hutchinson as a big reason he keeps pushing his level higher. For a Lions offense and team identity built on toughness up front, that kind of internal competition is exactly the sort of thing that can keep getting scarier. [Read more 🡒]