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Ejiro Evero didn't have the greatest of talent to work with during his first three years as defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. For most of his run, lineman Derrick Brown and cornerback Jaycee Horn have been the only reliable performers for the unit—putting a low ceiling on what this defense could accomplish.
But that should change here in 2026.
The front office splurged on a pair of promising linebackers this offseason, signing pass rusher Jaelan Phillips and Pro Bowler Devin Lloyd. And because of those free-agent additions, as well as a huge leap forward from 2024 to 2025, Jourdan Rodrigue at The Athletic tabs Evero as one of 32 assistant coaches who are primed for a big season.
Rodrigue writes:
It might seem strange to include an assistant who has already drawn plenty of interest for head coaching vacancies over the last few years, but Evero and the Panthers’ defense have also been rebuilding with the hope that 2026 is a breakout year for everyone. Carolina’s secondary was a real success story in 2025, and this spring the team added legitimate talent at pass rusher and inside linebacker. Ejiro has also assembled a talented, smart defensive staff.
Each offseason, Evero has received buzz as a head-coaching candidate—having interviewed, most recently, for the Atlanta Falcons and Las Vegas Raiders. But he's remained in Carolina, where the anticipation for a top-10 defense is building.
Thanks to a myriad of injuries, the Panthers ranked 32nd in overall defense in 2024—where they also allowed the most points in league history. Evero, however, righted the ship this past season—leading them to a 16th overall finish en route to an NFC South crown.
If this group takes the leap forward that we expect, Evero may finally move up the ranks elsewhere—and the Panthers will have to find somebody new in 2027.
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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers coach named potential breakout assistant for 2026
