Ejiro Evero (pronounced: AY-jer-OH eh-VARE-oh) has overseen the Panthers defense since joining the staff in 2023. Over his last four seasons as a defensive coordinator, Evero's defenses ranked in the top-10 twice, while he also presided over one of the 15 biggest defensive improvements since 2001 during the 2025 season.
In three seasons under Evero, Panther defenses have combined to allow just 200.1 yards per game passing, the fifth lowest average in that span. Carolina has allowed just 216 explosive pass plays (16+ yards) during that span, tied for the eight fewest in the league, including a top 10 rank in 2025.
In 2025, the Panthers defense allowed 77.3 yards per game less, the 13th best single-season improvement by an NFL team in the last 25 years. Evero led improvements by both the run and pass defense, as Carolina allowed almost 21 fewer passing yards per game, while the run defense improved by 56.5 yards per game, the ninth-largest decrease in the last 25 seasons.
With the return of team captain and defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who missed all but one game with injury the previous season, as well as a second straight Pro Bowl season from cornerback Jaycee Horn, the Panthers defense forced 21 takeaways, tied for the 10th most in the league. Horn, who tied for the lead among all NFL corners with five, and cornerback Mike Jackson combined for nine of the team's eighth ranked 15 interceptions. In the second half/overtime, Evero led a Panthers defense that finished with top 10 ranks in points allowed per game (9.1), takeaways (13), yards allowed per game (149.4), rush yards allowed per carry (3.8), passing yards allowed per game (96.6), and accepted defensive penalties per game (.71).
Safety Tre'von Moehrig and linebacker Christian Rozeboom, both added in the offseason as unrestricted free agents, joined safety Nick Scott on Evero's defense as one of six teams with three+ players to each record 100+ tackles. 2025 represented a single-season high in tackles for Moehrig and Scott, with Moehrig's 14 tackles for loss establishing a new high for NFL defensive backs in a season since 2016.Brown and rookie outside linebacker Nic Scourton each produced 5.0 sacks, a single-season best for Brown and a top five total among rookies for Scourton. Scourton led the team with 31 quarterback pressures, the most by a Panthers rookie since the stat was first tracked in 2016.
In 2024, Evero's defense saw Horn earn the first Pro Bowl honors of his career. Along with Jackson, who ranked tied for third in passes defensed (17), the duo combined for the most by a cornerback tandem in the NFL in 2024 (30). Following the season, both Horn and Jackson earned contract extensions.
Finishing fourth in total defense in his first season with the Panthers (2023), Evero oversaw a defensive unit that allowed 293.9 yards per game, the third lowest in a season in franchise history and over 50 yards fewer per game than the previous season. The defense's 171.5 passing yards per game set a franchise record and was third fewest in the NFL. Under his guidance, Brown was named to his first Pro Bowl and set an NFL record for most tackles by a defensive lineman in a season (103). Brown was the only player in the NFL in 2023 to record 100+ tackles, 15+ quarterback hits and seven+ tackles for loss.
Prior to joining Carolina, Evero oversaw a Denver defense (2022) that ranked seventh in the NFL in total defense (320.0 yards per game), 10th in rushing defense (1,866) and second in opponent third down conversion percentage (34.1%). The team also finished in the top 10 in opponent points per drive (seventh – 1.71), opponent red zone touchdown rate (seventh – 51.1%), and defensive three-and-out percentage (fourth – 37.9).
A pair of Broncos' defensive backs – cornerback Patrick Surtain II and safety Justin Simmons – garnered accolades, as Surtain II received first-team All-Pro honors and was named a starter for the AFC Pro Bowl team, while Simmons earned second-team All-Pro honors for his efforts. Surtain II recorded two interceptions and 10 passes defensed in his second year, while Simmons finished the season with a career-high six interceptions, tied for the most in the NFL.
Prior to Denver, Evero spent five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams (2017-21), serving as the secondary coach/pass game coordinator (2021) and safeties coach (2017-20). In those seasons, the defense collected a combined 82 interceptions, the second most in the league over that span. The club tallied 18 interceptions in consecutive seasons from 2017-18 and featured four safeties who combined for 12 picks in those two years.
During their Super Bowl-winning season (2021), Evero's secondary ranked tied for third in interceptions (19) and featured 10 different players to record at least one pick. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey and safety Taylor Rapp tied for the team lead in interceptions (four) and tied for sixth in the NFC. Ramsey earned his second career All-Pro selection and was named to his third career Pro Bowl. Among playoff teams that season, the Rams allowed just 18.8 points per game and ranked second in total yards per game (282.3) and third in passing yards per contest (222.0) while generating at least one interception in each of the team's first three playoff games.
As a defensive quality control coach for Green Bay (2016), Evero coached under then-Packers defensive coordinator and former Panthers head coach, Dom Capers, whom he later reunited with in Denver (2022) and in Carolina (2023-25).
In San Francisco for five seasons (2011-15), Evero started as a quality control coach (2011), before he worked as an offensive assistant (2012-13) and then switching sides of the ball as a defensive assistant (2014-15) for his final two years with the 49ers. He spent one season (2010) at the University of Redlands (Calif.) as special teams coordinator/defensive backs coach.
Evero broke into the NFL as a defensive quality control coach for Tampa Bay for three seasons (2007-09). He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of California-Davis (2005-06).
A four-year letterman at UC Davis (1999-2000, 02-03), Evero started at safety for three seasons. He was a two-time captain for the Aggies and was twice named a Division II All American (2002-03).
In addition to his undergraduate degree, Evero earned his master's degree in business administration from National University in 2006.
- 2005-06 | University of California-Davis - Assistant Coach
- 2007-09 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Defensive Quality Control
- 2010 | University of Redlands - Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs
- 2011 | San Francisco 49ers - Quality Control
- 2012-13 | San Francisco 49ers - Offensive Assistant
- 2014-15 | San Francisco 49ers - Defensive Assistant
- 2016 | Green Bay Packers - Defensive Quality Control
- 2017-20 | Los Angeles Rams - Safeties
- 2021 | Los Angeles Rams - Secondary/Passing Game Coordinator
- 2022 | Denver Broncos - Defensive Coordinator
- 2023-Pres. | Carolina Panthers - Defensive Coordinator
