Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold defends a pass intended for Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze during an NFL game on Nov. 28, 2024, at Ford Field in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
The Detroit Lions lost defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn this offseason as he became the head coach of the New York Jets. The Lions promoted linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator for the 2025 NFL season.
In a season marked by injuries to the Detroit defense, the Lions ranked seventh in points allowed and 20th in yards allowed among the NFL’s 32 teams in 2024.
Five of Detroit’s defensive starters for their season-opener were unavailable for the Lions’ playoff finale, and defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, defensive tackle Kyle Peko, and linebacker Derrick Barnes missed at least 12 games each.
However, Sheppard highlighted the valuable experience gained by the Detroit defense as he prepares for his first season as a coordinator.
“We have a young nucleus, a young core,” Sheppard said. “But someone who stands out to me — a Terrion Arnold. There’s so much potential there that he hasn’t even realized.
“He called me a few days ago, joking around. I said, ‘Where are you?’ ‘Down in Florida.’ I told him, ‘You better enjoy it, because when you come back, we’re getting to work, brother.’ And he responded, ‘Oh, absolutely, Coach! I know how you roll!’”
Arnold joined Detroit from Alabama as the 24th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Despite missing one game, Arnold was one of five rookies who played at least 900 defensive snaps in the 2024 regular season, and he played all 75 snaps in the Lions’ 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in the second round of the NFC playoffs on Jan. 18.
In the first four games of the season, Arnold was penalized for defensive pass interference five times, defensive holding twice, and a face mask once. In his remaining 13 games, Arnold was penalized three times, and due to a broken jaw suffered by former Auburn standout Carlton Davis, he played the most snaps at cornerback for the Lions this season.
“He’s got the right attitude,” Detroit general manager Brad Holmes said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “He took some lumps early, had some aggressive penalties early on. But as I mentioned at the end of the season, I felt the water had calmed halfway through.
“But he’s a very coachable player. He cares, he’s passionate, he’s prideful, so he’s going to do what it takes. He wants to be a great player, we want him to be a great player, so I have no doubt that he’ll continue to develop.”
Holmes credited former Alabama standout Deshea Townsend for his role in Arnold’s development as the Lions’ secondary coach.
“I thought Deshea did a great job with him,” Holmes said. “And, you know, I expected no different. But, yeah, I’m very excited about Terrion.”