Now that the Miami Dolphins have their general manager, former Green Bay Packers Vice President of Player Personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, the search for the head coach can officially get underway.
They've already reached out to assistant coaches like Robert Saleh, Clint Kubiak, and Chris Shula, but their latest request is a bit of a shocker.
"The #Dolphins have requested to speak with #Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard for their vacant HC job, source said. A rising young coach who impressed this season, Sheppard gets his first HC interview," wrote NFL Network's Ian Rapoport in a post on X.
Dolphins request to interview Lions DC Kelvin Sheppard
It's Kelvin Sheppard's first request to be interviewed as a head coach, and it's well deserved.
In his first year taking over as the Detroit Lions' defensive coordinator for Aaron Glenn, Sheppard helped guide the Lions to the 13th-best defense in the NFL according to Sumer Sports' EPA/play.
He's also a former NFL linebacker, having had an eight-year career, including two years with the Dolphins.
Sheppard started out as the Lions' outside linebackers coach in 2021, before working his way up to linebackers coach, and finally defensive coordinator.
We'll see how much consideration Sheppard gets for the job, and if any other teams look to interview after the Dolphins give him a shot.
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- Sheil Kapadia pitches Dolphins trade idea swapping first-round bust quarterbacks
- Dolphins urged to give contract extension to defensive captain
- Dolphins predicted to land Jaelan Phillips replacement in 2026 mock draft