Panthers consider keeping Ejiro Evero as DC under new head coach
The Carolina Panthers will have a new head coach in 2024, but that doesn't necessarily mean that every assistant coach on the current staff is going to be fired. According to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, from ESPN, the Panthers are considering a scenario where they keep Ejiro Evero as the defensive coordinator. "Something to monitor […]
The Carolina Panthers will have a new head coach in 2024, but that doesn't necessarily mean that every assistant coach on the current staff is going to be fired. According to NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, from ESPN, the Panthers are considering a scenario where they keep Ejiro Evero as the defensive coordinator.
"Something to monitor in Carolina is the potential of pairing a first-time offensive head coach with current defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero. This model has worked for Indianapolis, which hired Shane Steichen while keeping defensive coordinator Gus Bradley under contract. And that's what Miami did with coach Mike McDaniel, who was hired in 2022 under the stipulation that Josh Boyer remain as coordinator. The Dolphins eventually replaced Boyer with Vic Fangio, but the blueprint is the same: support the young offensive coach with stability on the other side.
After asking around, the sense is the Panthers are at least intrigued by this idea. Evero has done an impressive job with the Panthers' defense, which ranks third in total defense and passing defense despite minimal offensive help and a rash of injuries. He will most likely be on the head-coaching interview circuit and could interview in-house with Carolina, but with him under contract with the Panthers, he's an asset they'd like to keep should they focus on offense with their coaching search, as most expect."
Evero is not exactly a veteran coach, but he is relatively experienced. This is his second season as a defensive coordinator, but for the second team. Last year, he faced a similar scenario: Nathaniel Hackett was fired in-season by the Denver Broncos.
In both cases, Evero had a rough time keeping the defense afloat with so many offensive issues.
However, his job in Denver had better results. The Broncos defense finished last year 10th by DVOA and 9th by EPA/play. This year, the Panthers defense is 23rd by EPA/play, 24th by success rate, and 27th by DVOA.
That doesn't mean Evero has done a bad job. It's a difficult circumstance, and with a new offensive-minded head coach, it might make sense to give him another shot.
Ejiro Evero has been in the NFL since 2007. He's worked for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, and Green Bay Packers as a low-level assistant. In 2017, the Los Angeles Rams hired him as a safeties coach, then promoted him in 2021 to secondary coach and passing game coordinator — the year they won the Super Bowl.
His job in Denver was so good that he interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Broncos, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, and Arizona Cardinals. When he didn't get any top job, he went to the Panthers as Frank Reich's defensive coordinator.
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