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Panthers fire Ejiro Evero as defensive coordinator after loss to Packers
Carolina made the move one day after a 27-19 defeat in Green Bay, and Todd Wash takes over the defense for the rest of 2026.
Evero is out after the Green Bay loss
The Carolina Panthers relieved Ejiro Evero of defensive coordinator duties on Friday, after the team's 27-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night at Lambeau Field. [1] The loss dropped the Panthers to 3-4. [2]
Evero's tenure ended after 59 games, with 10 matchups left on the schedule. [1] Evero, 45, had led the Panthers' defense since 2023, which predated the hiring of head coach Dave Canales in 2024. [1]
What happened in Green Bay
In the Thursday loss, the defense allowed 354 net yards and four touchdowns on the road. [1] Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed 30 of 41 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns, helping Green Bay build a 27-10 lead before Carolina's late comeback attempt. [2]
Earlier in the month, Carolina defeated the Detroit Lions 32-26. [2]
The numbers behind the decision
Through seven games this season, Evero's defense ranked 30th in rushing defense, ninth in passing defense and 23rd in total defense. [1] The defense allowed 291 rushing yards and eight total touchdowns in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. [1] In Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it allowed 258 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. [1]
The defense held Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs to pedestrian numbers in wins against the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions, but had massive letdowns against the Bears, Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns in 2026. [1]
How we got here
In his first season, Evero's defense finished fourth-ranked overall, but became the first defense since 1980 to allow 3,000 rushing yards in a single campaign. [1] Since 2024, his defenses have allowed a league-leading 12 games of 200 or more rushing yards by an opponent, six more than the next defensive unit (Giants, Commanders). [1]
The defense improved across the board in 2025 after adding safety Tre'von Moehrig in free agency and outside linebackers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen in the draft. [1] Evero and Cooley previously won a Super Bowl together with the Los Angeles Rams as assistant coaches. [1]
Todd Wash takes over
Defensive line coach Todd Wash will serve as interim defensive coordinator for the rest of the 2026 season. [1] Wash originally joined Carolina's staff in 2023, has 31 years of coaching experience including 20 in the NFL, and spent five seasons (2016-20) as Jacksonville's defensive coordinator. [3]
Outside linebackers coach AC Carter will also coach the defensive line, and secondary coach Renaldo Hill will oversee the entire defensive back operation after Cooley's departure. [1]
What it means for fans
Carolina is 3-4 with 10 games left, and Wash now runs a defense that ranked 30th against the run through seven games. [2][1] Carter's responsibilities will expand to include the defensive line, and Hill will continue to oversee the defensive backs. [3]
Sources
- Panthers relieve Ejiro Evero of defensive coordinator duties - ESPN — espn.com
- Panthers Fire Multiple Coaches Following Loss to Packers — detroitsportsnation.com
- Panthers announce changes to defensive coaching staff — panthers.com
Written from the sources above and checked twice before publishing. How we work · Report an error
