The Carolina Panthers have fired defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero after their Thursday Night Football loss to the Green Bay Packers. Pass game coordinator Jonathan Cooley is also out, the clearest sign yet that pressure is growing in the building.
Ironically, the defense was the least of Carolina's problems at Lambeau Field. But results have been poor, and head coach Dave Canales probably felt these changes could spark the second half of 2026.
Defensive line coach Todd Wash will take charge of the defense from here on out. It's hard to say what difference this will make to a depleted unit, but this was the chosen route.
Carolina Panthers wield the axe on Ejiro Evero as pressure builds
Evero is a good coach. He was close to getting the Las Vegas Raiders head-coaching gig this year before they eventually went with Klint Kubiak. The Panthers were thrilled to have him back, but Canales didn't make the hire.
Canales helped extend Evero a couple of years ago, despite putting together a historically bad season. But now, he has been made surplus to requirements.
And not even being dealt a bad hand this season was enough to get a reprieve.
There's no doubt Evero has been a polarizing figure during his time in Carolina. You could say his personnel hasn't met the required standards, but his 3-4 system and soft zone coverages were an ongoing frustration.
Though the Panthers have improved against the run this season, two disastrous outings against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears painted this unit in a bad light.
It is what it is. Canales feels like change was required, if it was his decision at all. And it shows how dissatisfied the higher-ups are with how things are unfolding this season.
Evero will find work again. He's well respected around the league, but it never worked out in Carolina.
But good luck trying to make improvements with so many players missing from the lineup.
The Panthers haven't had Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown III nearly enough. Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson Sr. are out long-term, and Will Lee III could also be out after leaving Week 8 with a hamstring injury. Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips has missed the last two games, and Nic Scourton hasn't played this season after tearing his ACL on the first day of training camp.
That's a bad hand. And even though sacrifices were plausible after such a poor start, Wash doesn't exactly inspire confidence in this operation.
It's a bold move. Evero came to the Panthers with a big reputation, but he was always fighting a losing battle.
And where the Panthers go from here remains to be seen.
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