Ejiro Evero (pronounced: AY-jer-OH eh-VARE-oh) enters his third season as defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers. Twice in the last three seasons (2022 & 2023), Evero's defenses ranked in the top 10 league-wide, including fourth in his first season in Carolina (2023).
In his second year in Carolina, Evero's defense was led by first-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaycee Horn, who set career-highs in games played (15), total tackles (68), sacks (2.0), passes defensed (13), quarterback hits (two), and tackles for loss (five). Along with cornerback Mike 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). Safety Xavier Woods paced the defense in tackles (119) and interceptions (three). Evero also reunited with defensive end A'Shawn Robinson and linebacker Josey Jewell, whom he spent time with in Los Angeles and Denver, respectively. Robinson led all defensive linemen in the league in total (80) and solo tackles (43), while Jewell recorded the fifth-most tackles by a player in their first season with the Panthers (97), despite appearing in just 12 games.
Along with veteran contributions, several rookies shined under Evero's guidance in 2024. Linebacker Trevin Wallace ranked fourth in total tackles among rookies (63), despite only starting eight times in 13 games played. He finished tied with linebacker Jon Beason for fifth in franchise history in total tackles through a player's first eight starts (58). A fifth-round pick, cornerback Chau Smith-Wade and undrafted safety Demani Richardson both recorded interceptions, becoming one of just eight pairs of rookies on the same team this season with picks.
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, defensive tackle Derrick 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.
Under Evero's watch, the 2022 Broncos defense 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 postseason accolades. Surtain 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, which ranked tied for second 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 ranked 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), 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- | Carolina Panthers - Defensive Coordinator
