Ilir Emini enters his second season with the Carolina Panthers as a defensive assistant, and his fourth in the NFL after spending two seasons with the Houston Texans (2021-22).

Ilir Emini enters his third season with Carolina as defensive assistant, working primarily with the safety group. For Emini, 2026 marks his fifth overall in the NFL after spending two seasons with the Houston Texans (2021-22).

Working with the safeties (2025), Emini helped safety Tre'von Moehrig to single-season highs in sacks (3.0) and tackles for loss (14) in his first year as a Panther, as his 14 tackles for loss led all defensive backs in the NFL, marking the most by any defensive back in a single season since 1999. Safety Nick Scott set a single-season best with 109 tackles, while safety Lathan Ransom was one of only three rookies to record an interception, sack and forced fumble.

In his first year in Carolina (2024), Emini helped safety Xavier Woods to one of his best years in a Panthers uniform. He paced all Carolina defenders with 114 total tackles and three interceptions, his most in both categories in his three seasons with the Panthers. Woods finished fourth among safeties in the NFL in total tackles, eighth in interception return yards (70) and tied for 12th in interceptions. He was also one of just two defenders to play every snap in 2024.

At Wofford (2023), Emini improved the pass defense from last in the Southern Conference the year before to first. The Terriers also led the Southern Conference in fewest passing touchdowns allowed, lowest opponent completion percentage, opponent passer rating, forced fumbles and ranked second in interceptions.

While in Houston, Emini served as the nickels coach (2022) as the Texans were the only team in the NFL to have more interceptions (17) than passing touchdowns allowed (15). As the assistant linebackers coach(2021), linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill set franchise record for tackles in a single game (19).

In two seasons at the University of Illinois (2019-20) as a defensive analyst coach, Emini worked primarily with the linebackers and safeties and organized and oversaw the defensive support staff. He served as interim safeties coach in December of 2020.

Emini began his coaching career at Wofford College (2016-18), where he served as the safeties and nickels coach (2018), assistant defensive backs coach (2017) and quality control/video coordinator (2016), before returning to the school for one season as pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach(2023).

Emini graduated from Knox College in 2016 after majoring in elementary education and minoring in history and business. A four-year starter at wide receiver who also played on special teams, he was a two-time team captain, two-time All-Midwest Conference selection and broke 13 school records.

Born in Chicago, Ill., Emini and his wife, Kylie, reside in Charlotte.

Coaching Career:

• 2016 | Wofford College - Quality Control/Video Coordinator
• 2017 | Wofford College - Assistant Defensive Backs
• 2018 | Wofford College - Safeties/Nickels
• 2019-20 | Illinois - Defensive Analyst
• 2021 | Houston Texans - Defensive Assistant
• 2022 | Houston Texans - Defensive Assistant/Nickels
• 2023 | Wofford College - Safeties
• 2024-Pres. | Carolina Panthers - Defensive Assistant