Justin Simmons ‘selfishly’ hopes Ejiro Evero remains with Broncos
After an impressive first season as a defensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos, Ejiro Evero is drawing interest as a potential head coach candidate.
The Broncos have already interviewed Evero for their own head coach position, and the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts want to interview him as well.
Whether it’s as the head coach or as defensive coordinator, Denver safety Justin Simmons is hoping Evero will remain with the team for at least one more season.
“Selfishly, I would love to be with Coach ‘E,'” Simmons said on Sunday. “Whatever that looks like, head coach, back as d-coordinator again. Selfishly, I would love to be with him. He’s helped my game so much this year. You always learn — just when you think you know a good amount, you always learn so much more from a new mind and a new set of eyes and the way that he coaches and the way that affects coaches, the assistant coaches around the defensive room.”
Simmons totaled a league-high nine forced turnovers (six interceptions and three forced fumbles) in 12 games in 2022. He had the best season of his career in his first year under Evero, a former safety and secondary coach.
“I’m just so thankful for him and his leadership,” Simmons said. “I’ve learned so much from him, both on and off the field. Selflessly, I would really hope he gets that [head coach] job. Obviously, it would be great if it was here, but for him to get that opportunity somewhere, I think he is more than deserving of it. He is just a tremendous leader. I could be up here for hours just talking about how amazing of a coach and a man he is. I’m just really appreciative of him and he deserves it.”
Evero is one of seven known candidates for the Broncos’ head coach opening. Evero does not seem to be a front-runner for Denver’s job, but the 42-year-old coach is likely on his way to becoming a head coach one day. Simmons would like to see that day delayed by one more season, with Evero sticking around as a coordinator in 2023.
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