Ejiro Evero Hired as Panthers DC After Exit from Sean Payton's Broncos

After hiring Frank Reich as their head coach, the Carolina Panthers made a significant addition to his staff on Sunday.

The Panthers hired former Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero to the same position, a move first reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Evero, who Pelissero described as "one of the NFL's most talented young coaches," was let out of his contract with the Broncos after the team named Sean Payton as its head coach last week.

According to ESPN, Evero had interviewed for Carolina's head coaching position before Reich was hired. He also interviewed with the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts regarding their head coaching openings.

Evero needed just one season with the Broncos to establish himself as one of the best defensive minds in the game. Denver ranked seventh in the NFL by holding opponents to 320.0 yards per game and 14th in scoring defense at 21.1 points per game.

When the Broncos fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett during the 2022 season, Evero was offered the interim head coaching position, but he turned it down.

Prior to joining the Broncos, Evero spent five seasons on the Los Angeles Rams coaching staff. He was elevated to secondary coach and passing game coordinator in his final year with the team in 2021. The 42-year-old also spent time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers during his NFL coaching career.

Evero inherits a Panthers defensive unit that allowed 350.2 yards and 22.0 points per game. Carolina had endured a tumultuous season in which Matt Rhule was fired after a 1-4 start, but the team galvanized under interim head coach Steve Wilks to finish with a 7-10 record.