Panthers Fire Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero After Loss to Packers; Todd Wash Named Interim DC
Carolina also let go of defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley, and defensive line coach Todd Wash will call the defense
The Panthers fired defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero on Friday morning, less than 12 hours after a 27-19 loss in Green Bay dropped them to 3-5.
Carolina also moved on from defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley. Defensive line coach Todd Wash is the interim coordinator and will call the defensive plays, Ian Rapoport reported.
The #Panthers officially fired DC Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley. DL coach Todd Wash has been named interim defensive coordinator and will call the defensive plays.View on X →
Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet): The #Panthers officially fired DC Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley. DL coach Todd Wash has been named interim defensive coordinator and will call the defensive plays.
It's the first in-season coordinator firing in the league this year, and it comes after a three-game stretch in which the defense came apart. Carolina gave up 43 points in a home loss to the Buccaneers in Week 7, then allowed 354 yards and four touchdowns at Lambeau on Thursday, with Jordan Love throwing for 288 yards and three scores against a secondary missing three cornerbacks to injured reserve. The season opened with a 59-37 loss to the Bears, the most points the franchise has ever allowed in a game.
According to Mike Kaye's story at ESPN, the Panthers ranked 30th in run defense and 23rd in total defense through seven games. Run defense has been the recurring problem: since 2024, Carolina has allowed 200-plus rushing yards in a league-high 12 games, six more than any other team. The pass defense, ninth in the league this year, was the one part of the unit that held up.
Evero, 45, was hired in 2023 and survived the switch from Frank Reich to Dave Canales. He was one of the most-interviewed head coaching candidates of recent cycles, and was a finalist for the Raiders job. His tenure ends after 59 games.
Wash isn't new to the job. He ran Jacksonville's defense from 2016 to 2020, including a 2017 unit that ranked second in the league and reached the AFC Championship Game. Outside linebackers coach AC Carter will also take over the defensive line, and secondary coach Renaldo Hill will oversee the full defensive backfield.
Canales is using the extra days after the Thursday game to make the change. Carolina, tied with Atlanta atop the NFC South entering the weekend, hosts the Broncos on Sunday, Nov. 8.