Amidst the ongoing NFL coaching carousel, which the Green Bay Packers are very much a part of as they search for a new defensive coordinator, a major question looms over the fate of Ejiro Evero, the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers.
Evero has actively pursued head coaching opportunities, interviewing with several teams following the conclusion of the season, but so far, he has not secured one of these coveted positions.
As of now, the only remaining head coaching vacancies in the NFL are with the Seattle Seahawks—where Evero had a second interview—and the Washington Commanders.
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding Evero’s potential role as a defensive coordinator for a team other than the Panthers in 2024. Joseph Person of The Athletic reported on Monday that Carolina has blocked interview requests from the New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, and Jacksonville Jaguars, who were interested in speaking with Evero about their coordinator openings.
In contrast, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated stated on Sunday night that Evero is a leading candidate for the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator positions.
Breer also mentioned that Evero currently commands an annual salary of over $3 million as a coordinator, which is nearly half of what first-time NFL head coaches are making in the current market.
The uncertainty surrounding Evero’s availability is palpable. While the Panthers have the option to retain him as their defensive coordinator, they have already blocked many of his interview requests, even before they hired Dave Canales as their next head coach.
The situation will remain unresolved until Evero is either ruled out for the Seahawks’ head coaching job or he makes a definitive statement about his willingness to return to the 2-15 Carolina roster.
It’s worth noting that Evero was a finalist for the defensive coordinator position that eventually went to Joe Barry in Green Bay in 2021. Evero, who had previously served as a defensive quality control coach with the Packers, received his first full-time on-field coaching opportunity under Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay. McVay, who also played a pivotal role in the careers of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and former defensive coordinator Joe Barry, coached Evero as the safeties coach for four years.
In 2021, Evero was promoted to secondary coach and passing game coordinator before departing for the Denver Broncos in 2022 to become their defensive coordinator. In 2023, Evero was released from his contract when Sean Payton was named the Broncos’ head coach, leading to his signing with the Panthers.
This is certainly something to keep an eye on for the Green Bay Packers. Getting Evero would be a massive upgrade at defensive coordinator.
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