INDIANAPOLIS >> Kelvin Sheppard doesn’t quite understand why everybody keeps pointing out that he’s “still so young.”

Sure, the Detroit Lions’ new defensive coordinator is only 37 years old. But in football years? He’s spent 32 years in the game, including the last 15 at the professional level as a player and coach. While he doesn’t want his age to interfere with how people think about him, it does illustrate his impressive rise — and his good fortune of beginning his coaching career in Detroit during the franchise’s coaching renaissance.

“It means everything to me. I mean, guys spend 25 years in this profession and don’t get this opportunity,” Sheppard, the Lions’ former linebackers coach, said when speaking to reporters for the first time since being promoted last month.

“I’m very grateful. I do believe this was earned,” he added. “But you can earn a lot of things, you can go out and put the work in and not get to a position that I’ve been put in.”

Sheppard and new offensive coordinator John Morton were officially introduced to the media on Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

So, here he is — officially. A massive opportunity ahead of him on a team with Super Bowl aspirations — long before his 40th birthday — and under the mentorship of a coach who never stopped believing in him.

Sheppard’s new title is just the latest in a long line of endorsements from head coach Dan Campbell, who reiterated this week how seriously he takes his staffing decisions. Campbell said he told departing head coaches Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears) and Aaron Glenn (New York Jets) that choosing their staff would be the most important thing they’ll do in their gigs.

When Campbell says Sheppard is “ready” for the job, you know he means it.

“I’ve always believed that Shep could be an outstanding coach,” Campbell said. “About two years ago, I just felt like, ‘Man, this guy will be ready to be a coordinator sooner rather than later.’ So, (Glenn) and I had talked about it and tried to give him more responsibility over the last two years. With that in mind for him, that this is the next step … without telling him; nothing was ever promised. I felt really good about that; he’s ready. He’s ready.”

Sheppard played eight NFL seasons, ending his career after a one-year stint with the Lions in 2018. He began his post-playing career in 2020 as the director of player development at his alma mater (LSU) before Campbell, who was on the Dolphins’ staff when Sheppard played in Miami (2014-15), brought him in as an outside linebackers coach in 2021. He became the head linebackers coach in 2022 and was instantly earmarked for bigger and better things.

“(Sheppard is) a guy I’ve been mentoring for a while,” said Glenn, Detroit’s defensive coordinator from 2021-24.

“He’s tough. He’s gritty. He understands ball from a number of different perspectives, and listen, I just totally have a lot of confidence in that man. I think he’s gonna do a hell of a job.”

Most of Sheppard’s growth over the last two years has been in game-planning, particularly on first and second downs. He appreciates the opportunity afforded by Glenn, who, unlike Campbell, made it quite clear to Sheppard that he was preparing him to be the defensive coordinator’s successor.

Sheppard invented a game to help improve his play-calling skills before having the opportunity to do it live. He’d rewatch Lions games, pause before each play began, and make his own call for the defense, hoping it would line up with what Glenn called in the actual game.

“At the end of the week, I just pull up games and call the games myself just for fun. Like, why not? I firmly believe, don’t wait until you get the call to be ready, make sure you’re ready before you get the call,” Sheppard said.

Sheppard is also grateful for his treatment by Lions general manager Brad Holmes, who he said took the time to learn Sheppard’s vision and what type of players he wanted him to acquire.

“I had aspirations, but for other people to see that stuff for you and try to put you in a position to get there, that’s why I owe those guys everything,” Sheppard said. More than anything, he appreciates the support from the players — especially the offensive ones.

“The (player support) means the most to me. I’m going to be honest.”

In terms of how he envisions his offense, the words that come to mind are “multiple” and “simplicity.” He was hesitant to enter conversations about “expectations,” but said Glenn set a standard for the Lions’ defense that he intends to uphold.

“One of the reasons I not only chose to stay, but Dan was so confident in hiring me, was the continuity portion of this. We have a lot of players that’s been in this thing now for a few years, and I owe it to them to keep as much of this the same as I can,” Sheppard said.

“But I also owe it to them to raise the standard.”

A mature approach from a man who’s still so young.