The Carolina Panthers have fired their defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero just hours after the team’s loss to the Green Bay Packers.
The Panthers slipped to 5-3 on the season after a 27-19 loss in primetime on Thursday Night Football. That result came just days after the Panthers gave up 43 points on Sunday to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
While Dave Canales and Bryce Young’s offense has been impressive so far this season, the Panthers defense has continuously shipped points and cost them in games.
Evero becomes the first coordinator to be fired in the NFL this season, while defensive pass-game coordinator Jonathan Cooley has also lost his job.
He was hired in 2023 and was kept on when Dave Canales replaced Frank Reich as head coach in 2024. The Panthers invested heavily in Evero’s defense in the offseason but there has been little improvement.
Carolina entered the week ranked 22nd in overall defense and last in the league against the run.
The Carolina Panthers have fired their defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero after Thursday’s loss
The Panthers slipped to 5-3 on the season after a 27-19 loss on Thursday Night Football
Green Bay’s Jordan Love was 30 of 41 passing for 288 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the win over Carolina.
It hasn’t helped that the Panthers have played the last few games without starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson. Backup cornerback Akayleb Evans joined them on injured reserve earlier this week.
Defensive line coach Todd Wash has been named interim defensive coordinator and will call the defensive plays, according to the Panthers.
Wash joined Carolina’s staff in 2023 and has 31 years of coaching experience, including 20 in the NFL.
He spent five seasons serving as the defensive coordinator for Jacksonville. The Jaguars had the second-ranked defense in the league in 2017 under Wash and advanced to the AFC Championship game.
