Ejiro Evero will remain as Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator, reports say
Posted February 5, 2024 2:21 p.m. EST
Updated February 5, 2024 2:37 p.m. EST
The Carolina Panthers are expected to retain defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and most of his staff for the 2024 season, reports indicate.
The Athletic's Joseph Person and ESPN's David Newton were among the first to report the news.
During last week's introductory news conference, new Panthers head coach Dave Canales praised Evero's defense.
“I played against the Panthers twice (in 2023 as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator), and the job that EJ Evero did with the defense was really hard to deal with,” Canales said. “Great, sound football, playing hard, some great players in some spots, and just the whole thing coming together.”
Evero, 43, interviewed twice for the Seattle Seahawks head coaching vacancy. The Seahawks opted to hire Mike Macdonald instead.
The Panthers also blocked Evero from defensive coordinator interviews with other teams since it's a parallel move and he's still under contract, according to multiple reports. It included the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and New York Giants.
Despite going 2-15 in the 2023 regular season, here's how the Panthers' defense fared:
- Allowed 24.5 points per game (29th in the NFL)
- Allowed 293.9 yards per game (fourth in the NFL)
- Allowed 171.5 passing yards per game (third in the NFL)
- Allowed 122.4 rushing yards per game (23rd in the NFL)
Brad Idzik will serve as the Panthers' offensive coordinator.
Idzik has worked with Canales before. Last season, Idzik served as the Buccaneers' wide receivers coach.
