Lions defensive coordinaor Kelvin Sheppard expected to be a front-runner for LSU head coaching job after Brian Kelly firing
After the Detroit Lions' win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7, everyone is talking about the job done by Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard. To go into a prime-time game against one of the best teams in the league with a skeleton crew and hold that offense to just nine points, that's bound to impress just about every decision maker out there.
The early thoughts have been that Sheppard is likely to get head coaching interviews in the NFL this winter, but now that LSU has fired head coach Brian Kelly, Sheppard's alma mater could come calling, and after what they paid Kelly, it might be hard to say no.
There's already talk about Sheppard as one of the front-runners for the job
If LSU is for-real about the next head coach and turning it around the first guy you have to absolutely give a call to is K Shep. Even if he wants to stay in the NFL you have to throw that lure out there. If not here’s who.
Brent Key
Glenn Schumann
Matt Patricia
Vance Joseph
— Breiden Fehoko (@BreidenFehoko) October 26, 2025
While there is nothing official yet and there won't be until this season is over, it's notable that LSU alums and fans hit social media hard last night asking for Sheppard to come home. This shouldn't be looked at as your classic instance where fans are clamoring over a coach they have no chance at.
You can take it to the bank that LSU will reach out to Sheppard at some point. Now, that doesn't mean he'll take the job, and it doesn't even mean he'll take an interview. He may look to stay in Detroit, or he may have his sights set on a head coaching role in the NFL. But again, they're very likely going to call him.
Sheppard played for LSU from 2007 to 2010 and helped them win a national championship in 2007. After he retired from playing, Sheppard went back ot LSU to be thier director of player development. So he's already sort of been on the LSU coaching staff before. The Lions hired him to be their linebacker coach a year later. We'll see what happens soon enough.
Eagles Give Positive Injury Update on RB Saquon Barkley
The Philadelphia Eagles may have caught a break when it comes to running back and reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley and a scary injury moment in a 38-20 win over the New York Giants in Week 8.
Barkley was taken out of the game with a groin injury in the second half, but not until he rushed for a season high 150 yards on 14 carries to go with 1 rushing touchdown and 1 receiving touchdown.
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Barkley could have returned if the game would have been on the line.
“Eagles running back Saquon Barkley left Sunday’s game late in the third quarter with a groin injury,” Florio wrote on October 26. “He did not return. Per the team, he could have returned to the game, if needed. He wasn’t needed.”
If Barkley was going to get even mildly injured, now would be the time.
The Eagles have their bye in Week 9 and don’t return to action for 15 days, when they face another Super Bowl contender in the Green Bay Packers.
Barkley’s Early-Season Struggles in Spotlight
Barkley’s breakout game comes after 2 months of having his every carry picked apart by the media, and for good reason.
In 2024, in his first season with the Eagles, Barkley became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season and helped lead his team to a Super Bowl win.
Barkley, who became the highest paid running back in NFL history, had yet to have a 100 yard game through the first 7 weeks of the regular season.
“It’s a shocking regression,” Fox Sports color commentator and former NFL tight end Greg Olsen said during Philadelphia’s Week 7 win over the Minnesota Vikings in which Barkley had 18 carries for 44 yards. “It’s just continued today.”
Through 7 games, Barkley had 113 carries for 369 yards and 3 touchdowns. That put him on track to rush for approximately 896 yards in a 17-game season.
Barkley’s Focus Remains On Winning Games
Whatever the talking heads might say about Barkley’s stats, the message from the player himself throughout the season has been focused solely on one thing: Winning.
“People get caught up in how winning looks … it’s winning,” Barkley said after the win over the Vikings. “It’s our team beating their team. Whatever it looks like, that’s all that matters. To win the football game. That’s what matters.”
In stark contract to that approach, star wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith complained publicly in 2024 about not getting the ball enough during a 10-game winning streak.
Brown did the same thing this year as the Eagles reeled off 4 consecutive wins to open the season.
While Barkley’s game has been picked apart and Brown’s diva behavior has as well, much of the blame for any offensive struggles should land on first year offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.
Patullo was hired as offensive coordinator to take over for current New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore. The Eagles currently rank 23rd in the NFL in total offense.
“Plenty of finger-pointing will occur this week after another disappointing performance by the Eagles. Since the same issues continue to occur, Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator will receive the brunt of the vitriol,” Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski wrote on October 10. “It’s deserved, though.”
