Ejiro Evero could still be in play for Packers as defensive coordinator candidate
While assumed that Ejiro Evero would either take a head coaching job or remain with the Carolina Panthers as the defensive coordinator on Dave Canales’ new staff, new reporting from Albert Breer of SI.com suggests Evero — a potential top candidate for Matt LaFleur — could still be in play for both the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams.
Per Breer, Evero is set to make $3 million per year as the Panthers coordinator in 2024, but he would be “at or near the top” of a candidate list for both the Packers and Rams, and a chance to coordinate defenses for either the Packers or Rams might better help Evero’s chances of one day becoming a head coach.
The Panthers have been blocking interview requests for Evero and the belief is the team wants Evero to return to lead the defense for Canales, a first-time head coach.
Evero, who was a defensive quality control assistant in Green Bay under Dom Capers in 2016, interviewed with LaFleur during the 2021 hiring cycle. The Packers went with Joe Barry, while Evero got promoted in Los Angeles, won a Super Bowl and eventually went on to coordinate the Denver Broncos defense in 2022 and the Panthers defense in 2023.
The Broncos and Panthers both ranked in the top 10 for yards allowed under Evero. The Packers fired Barry after three years as the coordinator last week.
Evero spent five years with the Rams — the first four as the safeties coach (2017-20) and the fifth as the secondary coach and passing game coordinator. He worked under both Wade Phillips and Brandon Staley in Los Angeles.
Evero’s early influence at the NFL level was coordinator Vic Fangio. Evero runs a similar scheme, possibly making for an easy transition away from Barry in 2024 and beyond.
During the regular season, LaFleur said Evero runs a “really good scheme” and did a “hell of a job” with both the Broncos and Panthers.
“He’s a great communicator, he’s demanding, he holds guys accountable. I’ve just got a ton of respect for what he’s been able to accomplish,” LaFleur said in December before playing the Panthers.
