NFL CAREER – 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 lineman is entering his ninth NFL season and fourth with the Saints. The Ajax, Ontario, Canada native has appeared in 122 career games with 50 starts, totaling 245 tackles (125 solo) and 13.5 sacks for a loss of 114.5 yards. In 2025, he appeared in 16 games with eight starts for New Orleans, posting 47 tackles (23 solo), 3.0 sacks and four stops for loss.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by the New Orleans Saints to a one-year contract extension, 3/10/25; Agreed to terms with New Orleans (UFA-NYJ) on a three-year contract, 3/17/23; Re-signed by the Jets to a one-year contract, 3/16/22; Signed by the Jets to a four-year contract, 5/18/18; Selected by the New York Jets in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.
HONORS – 2025: NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week Ten).
2025 – Appeared in 16 games with eight starts for Saints, posting 47 tackles (23 solo), three sacks and four stops for a loss, working the front line for a unit that finished ninth in the NFL in total defense and sixth in opponent rushing yards per play…Started and played on special teams, finishing with three tackles, vs. Arizona, Sept. 7…Started and played on special teams, finishing with three tackles (one solo) and tied a career-high with two QB hits at Buffalo, Sept. 28…Started and played on special teams, finishing with four tackles (two solo), vs. N.Y. Giants, Oct. 5…Rotated in on defense and special teams, recording three tackles (two solo) and set career-high with three QB hits, vs. New England, Oct. 12…Rotated in on defense and special teams, recording two tackles at Chicago, Oct. 19…Started and played on special teams, recording three stops (one solo) and his first sack of the season (tied career-high) vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 26…Rotated in on defense and special teams, recording two solo stops, a sack for a 13-yard loss and the first field goal block of his career at Carolina, Nov. 9…Also played a key role in run-stopping effort where Saints surrendered only 73 rushing yards on 23 carries (3.2 avg.). Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week…Rotated in on defense and on special teams, recording two tackles vs. Atlanta, Nov. 23…Rotated in on defense and special teams, finishing with three tackles (two solo), at Miami, Nov. 30…Started and also played on special teams, finishing with five stops (three solo) and two QB hits, Dec. 7…Rotated in on defense and special teams, recording two tackles (one solo) and a QB hit, vs. Carolina, Dec. 14…Rotated in on defense and special teams, finishing with three tackles (two solo), one sack, one stop for loss and one forced fumble, the first of his career, vs. N.Y. Jets, Dec. 21. Tied his prior season career-best of three sacks and was part of a Saints defensive front that recorded a season-high eight sacks…Made his 50th career start and also played on special teams, recording three tackles (two solo) at Tennessee, Dec. 28. 2024 – Appeared in 16 games with 13 starts for Saints, adding 37 tackles (16 solo), including three stops for loss and 1.5 sacks…Recorded four stops (three solo) and one tackle for loss in Monday Night Football win vs. Carolina, Sept. 8…Notched three stops and a tackle for loss vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 13…Added four tackles and a split-sack at Carolina, Nov. 3…Recorded a sack for a loss of eight yards vs. L.A. Rams, Dec. 1. 2023 – Opened all 17 contests for the Saints, totaling career-highs in tackles (50) and sacks (three), adding three stops for loss…Recorded two stops (one solo) and a sack for six-yard loss in Monday night win at Carolina, Sept. 18…Vs Tampa Bay, Oct. 1, recorded four tackles (one solo)…Finished 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 8…Recorded three tackles and a half sack in win at Indianapolis, Oct. 29…In win vs Chicago, Nov. 5, totaled five stops (three solo)…Recorded a season/career-high seven tackles (season-high four solo) and a half sack in win vs Carolina, Dec. 10…Added three solo stops in win vs Giants, Dec. 17…Posted 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 – Played in all 17 games with three starts in final season with the Jets and posted 33 tackles (16 solo), 1.5 sacks for loss of 11.5 yards and four stops for loss as part of a defensive line rotation for a unit ranked fourth in the NFL in total defense (311.1 ypg.) and scoring defense (18.6 ppg.) and tenth in opponent rushing yards per play (4.2 avg.)…Posted three tackles (two solo) and one sack vs. New England, Oct. 30…Started and finished with four tackles (two solo) and one split sack vs. Chicago, Nov. 27. 2021 – Appeared in all 17 games with one start, one of four Jets defensive players to play in every game. Finished with 28 tackles, eight QB hits and 15 QB pressures. 2020 – 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 – Limited to the final nine games of the season for the Jets. 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 – Appeared in all 16 games (five starts) for the Jets. Registered 18 tackles and five QB hits, ranking in the top 10 among rookie defensive linemen (according to Radar360).
COLLEGE – Started college career as a 205-pound defensive end at Simon Fraser (B.C.) University in 2012…Transferred 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 a loss and four sacks, receiving an invite to the 2018 Senior Bowl…Over his college career, compiled 27 stops for loss and ten quarterback takedowns…Only the third player ever drafted from Fort Hayes State and the first in over 30 years.
PERSONAL – Played LB at J. Clarke Richardson (Ajax, Ontario) Collegiate…Took up football as a youth with the Ajax/Pickering Dolphins Football Club…As 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 – two seasons – 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 shifts…After 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.
