Two years ago, right after Jim Leonhard was offered the defensive coordinator job in Green Bay and declined it, it was reported that then Los Angeles Rams safeties coach Ejiro Evero would be one of the favorites to get the opportunity. In the end, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur chose a more experienced option, going with Joe Barry.

It didn't work out, and Barry is fired after three seasons. Now, LaFleur might want to correct that mistake, and Evero himself is a possibility.

According to Sports Illustrated's NFL insider Albert Breer, the Packers will have interest in Evero if he becomes available.

"Evero has emerged as an interesting figure to watch in the next few weeks. He’s on a deal at over $3 million per year to be Carolina's defensive coordinator but was hired as part of a Frank Reich's staff now being inherited by Dave Canales. Meanwhile, the Packers and Rams — whose head coaches know Evero well — have openings. They would both have the 43-year-old, if available, near or at the top of their lists. And those places, at least on paper, could better pipeline Evero into a head-coaching shot. So… stay tuned."

In 2022, Evero was hired as the Denver Broncos' coordinator and led a top 5 defensive unit. With Nathaniel Hackett's firing, he was made available and ended up with the Carolina Panthers. It's a difficult proposition for the Packers, though, for several reasons.

Obstacles

First of all, Evero has been so successful as a defensive coordinator that he has had multiple head coaching interviews over the last two cycles. This year, he's still in contention for the Seattle Seahawks' job — which includes a second interview.

But even if he doesn't get the top job with the Seahawks, it doesn't mean Evero will be up for grabs in the defensive coordinator market. He is still under contract with the Panthers, and head coach Dave Canales has given early indications that he wants to keep Evero.

As going to DC is a lateral move, the Panthers aren't forced to allow it. They can simply block interviews — and that's what they have done so far.

If Ejiro Evero doesn't get the HC job in Seattle and lets it clear for the Panthers management that he prefers an opportunity with the Packers or the Rams to increase his future outlook, maybe Canales will agree to it and tries to find another coach — just like Sean Payton did with the Denver Broncos.

Finally, even if the Panthers make Evero available to take interviews elsewhere, Matt LaFleur will have a tough time convincing Evero that the Packers are more attractive than the opportunity to work under Sean McVay.

Green Bay has a low bar to clear when the topic is taking the most out of the defensive personnel. However, the last two defensive coordinators in Los Angeles (Brandon Staley and Raheem Morris) became head coaches. A Packers defensive coordinator has never (!) been hired as a head coach.

So far, it's unclear if the Packers have even requested an interview with Ejiro Evero.

The Packers have talked to former Los Angeles Chargers head coach Brandon Staley, Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Aden Durde, Buffalo Bills linebackers coach Bobby Babich, and Denver Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker.

Packers DC tracker: list of candidates

Green Bay is doing interviews for the defensive coordinator job