Shawn Jefferson served his fifth season coaching with the Lions in 2008. He was named wide receivers coach for the 2008 season after working with the team's wide receivers the previous three seasons as a coaching intern in 2005, as an offensive assistant in 2006 and then as the assistant wide receivers coach in 2007. Jefferson spent the 2003 season with the Lions as a player and brings 13 years of NFL playing experience to the club.
Jefferson helped Lions WR Calvin Johnson establish himself as one of the NFL's best receivers as he finished 2008 tied for first in touchdown receptions (12), fifth in receiving yards (1,331), second in yards per catch among receivers with 60 receptions (17.1), tied for second in 20+-yard receptions (21), tied for second in 40+-yard receptions (7) and tied for first in 25+-yard touchdown catches (6). Johnson was named an alternate to the 2009 NFC Pro Bowl squad.
In the Lions record books, Johnson became only the second player in team history (WR Herman Moore in 1995) to record 70 receptions, 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns in a single season. He is the only player in Lions' history to record 1,300 yards with less than 80 catches. His 12 touchdowns tied for the most touchdown grabs (Leon Hart in 1951) by a first or second year player with the Lions, and his 1,331 receiving yards are the second-most in team history by a first or second year player.
In 2007, the Detroit Lions were the only team in the NFL and the first in franchise history to have four different players finish with more than 650 receiving yards (Shaun McDonald, 943; Roy Williams, 836; Calvin Johnson, 756; Mike Furrey, 664). Detroit's wide receiving unit was also second in the NFL in receptions (268) and receiving yards (3,370).
While working as an offensive assistant in 2006, Jefferson helped WR Roy Williams to a NFC-leading and career-high 1,310 receiving yards. He also worked with the NFC's receptions leader Mike Furrey (98 receptions for 1,082 yards). It was the first time since 1999 that two Lions receivers finished with more than 1,000 yards.
He was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the 9th round in 1991, and spent time over 13 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers and the Detroit Lions until retiring in 2003. He has amassed over 7,023 yards receiving on 470 receptions and 29 touchdowns in 195 career games.
He became the first from UCF to participate in a Super Bowl when he was a member of the San Diego Chargers' Super Bowl XXIX team and then returned to that stage with the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI. Jefferson's 14-year NFL career was longer than that of any other former Golden Knight.
Jumping right into the coaching ranks following his playing career, Jefferson spent the 2004 season as a volunteer coach with his high school alma mater, William Raines H.S. During his tenure at William Raines, he spent the month of June with the Jacksonville Jaguars as part of the team's Scouting Seminar.
Jefferson was a wide receiver for the Knights from 1988-90 and was a part of the team that guided UCF into the Division I-AA semifinals in 1990. That year, teaming with fellow UCF Hall of Fame inductee Sean Beckton, Jefferson caught seven touchdowns for the Knights. He also had a 135-yard receiving game against Southern Illinois in 1990. Those 135-yards were gained on only 3 catches.
Jefferson and his wife Marla, have two daughters, Paige and Faith, and a son, Shawn Jr.