NFL CAREER â Originally selected by the New York Jets in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Fort Hays State, this versatile defensive tackle enters his eighth NFL season and third with the Saints. The Ajax, Ontario, Canada native has appeared in 106 career games with 42 starts, totaling 198 tackles (102 solo) and 10.5 sacks for a loss of 85.5 yards. In 2024, he appeared in 16 games with 13 starts for New Orleans, posting 37 tackles (16 solo), 1.5 sacks and three stops for loss.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS â Agreed to terms with the New Orleans Saints (UFA-NYJ), 3/17/23; Re-signed by the New York Jets to a one-year contract, 3/16/22; Signed by the Jets to a four-year contract, 9/10/19; Selected by the Jets in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.
2024 â Appeared in 16 games with 13 starts for Saints, adding 37 tackles (16 solo), including three stops for loss and 1.5 sacksâŠRecorded four stops (three solo) and a tackle for loss vs. Carolina, Sept. 8âŠPosted three tackles (two solo) vs. Philadelphia, Sept. 22âŠNotched three stops and a tackle for loss vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 13âŠAdded four tackles and a half sack at Carolina, Nov. 3âŠRecorded a sack for a loss of eight yards vs. L.A. Rams, Dec. 1. 2023 â Opened all 17 contests for Saints, totaling career-highs in tackles (50) and sacks (three), adding three stops for lossâŠRecorded two stops (one solo) and a sack for six-yard loss in Monday night win at Carolina, Sept. 18âŠVs Tampa Bay, Oct. 1, recorded four tackles (one solo)âŠFinished with two stops for a defense that shut out New England, 34-0 and allowed only 45 yards rushing on 18 carries (2.5 avg.), Oct 8âŠRecorded three tackles and a half sack in win at Indianapolis, Oct. 29âŠIn win vs Chicago, Nov. 5, totaled five stops (three solo)âŠRecorded a season/career-high seven tackles (season-high four solo) and a half sack in win vs Carolina, Dec. 10âŠAdded three solo stops in win vs Giants, Dec. 17âŠPosted three solo tackles, one sack for a loss of seven yards and one tackle for loss in finale win vs Atlanta, 1/7/24. 2022 â Played in all 17 games with three starts in final season with Jets and posted 33 tackles, 1.5 sacks and four stops for loss as part of a defensive line rotation for a unit ranked fourth in the National Football League in total defense (311.1 ypg.) and scoring defense (18.6 ppg.) and tenth in opponent rushing yards per play (4.2 avg.)âŠPosted three tackles (two solo) and a sack vs. New England, Oct. 30âŠStarted and finished with four tackles (two solo) and one split sack vs. Chicago, Nov. 27. 2021 â Appeared in all 17 games with one start, one of four Jets defensive players to play every game. Finished with 28 tackles, eight QB hits and 15 QB pressures. 2020 â Appeared as part of a Jets defense that allowed only 4.03 yards per carry, the seventh-best average in the league. Registered 17 tackles and 2.5 sacks, including 10 stops and 2.5 sacks over the final three games (all starts). 2019 â Limited to the final nine games of the season. Registered 15 tackles and first two sacks of career. Added five stops for loss, contributing to a defense that led the NFL with 117 tackles for no gain or negative yards. 2018 â Appeared in all 16 games (five starts). Registered 18 tackles and five QB hits, ranking in the top 10 among rookie defensive linemen (according to Radar360).
COLLEGE â Started college career as a 205-pound DE at Simon Fraser (B.C.) University in 2012âŠTransferred to Fort Hays State in 2015 after working two years to save money, where he played from 2015-17 and earned AFCA and D2Football.com first-team All-American honors and AP second-team All-American recognition as a senior in 2017, when he finished with 38 tackles, 12.5 stops for loss and four sacks, receiving an invite to the 2018 Senior BowlâŠOver his college career, compiled 27 stops for loss and ten quarterback takedownsâŠOnly the third player ever drafted from Fort Hayes State and the first in over 30 years.
PERSONAL â Played LB at J. Clarke Richardson (Ajax, Ontario) CollegiateâŠStarted playing football as a youth with the Ajax/Pickering Dolphins Football ClubâŠAs a result of Canadian universities not offering full athletic scholarships, Shepherd was forced to withdraw from Simon Fraser before enrolling at Fort Hays State the following year. In his time between the two schools â two seasons â he worked in a plant nursery, electrical construction, which his father does, and at a factory that made boxes for beer and soda, working out by doing push-ups before or after his 12- to 14-hour shiftsâŠAfter initially paying his way to Fort Hays State for the second semester of 2015, supporting himself by working several side jobs, Shepherd earned a scholarship.
