He’s going to be a hot name on the head coaching cycle.
Which teams could steal defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero from the Carolina Panthers if David Tepper overlooks him for the head coaching role?
The Carolina Panthers are again looking for a new head coach after firing Frank Reich. Although David Tepper might go down an outside route, one candidate already in the building is worthy of strong consideration.
While the Panthers have failed to meet expectations this season, it’s done nothing to harm defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero’s reputation. His unit continues to impress. This is remarkable considering how many injuries to key personnel have occurred throughout the campaign.
Evero is sure to get head coaching interest as a result. The Panthers let one legitimate head coach walk out of the door during the last cycle after Steve Wilks failed to convince Tepper he was the man for the job. Something the billionaire would come to regret as Carolina descended into the league’s laughing stock once again.
The progressive coach isn’t going to be short of offers or interest, one suspects. With this in mind, here are four teams that could steal Evero from the Panthers in 2024.
Falcons could steal Ejiro Evero from the Carolina Panthers
After watching Ejiro Evero’s defense restrict his team to six points in torrid weather conditions, Arthur Blank might decide to make him a primary head coaching target if the Atlanta Falcons opted to move forward without Arthur Smith once the season concludes.
Evero is more qualified than most to become a head coach during the upcoming cycle. The Falcons have some nice pieces to build around on both sides of the football. They could have plenty of salary-cap space to further strengthen once sacrifices are made. They might even be in a position to go after a marquee quarterback in free agency such as Kirk Cousins should he become available.
Smith’s status as head coach is hanging by a thread. Appointing Evero is an option to consider. Weakening an NFC South rival in this scenario only sweetens the pot.
Commanders could steal Ejiro Evero from the Carolina Panthers
Former Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera is a dead man walking in terms of his job status with the Washington Commanders. His roster building and no genuine progression on the football side has come in for severe criticism this season. With Josh Harris’ ownership group looking to make their mark, all signs point to him being relieved of his duties once the campaign ends.
When Rivera is let go, the Commanders could arguably be the most enticing head coaching job around the league. They have a wealth of draft picks – particularly over the first three rounds after trading Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Washington could also boast north of $100 million to spend in free agency to further intrigue any potential candidate.
Going down the offensive-minded route seems to be the current trend. However, one only has to look at the set-up DeMeco Ryans created with the Houston Texans to see how those with defensive backgrounds can also thrive.
Ejiro Evero might be a surprising candidate for the Commanders. It’s not the flashiest hire, but he’s ascending quickly. Something that won’t go unnoticed by serious football teams looking to turn around their fortunes.
Magic Johnson knows what it takes to win. Harris also has experience running sports franchises to ensure bad football-related decisions are kept to a minimum. If the choice was Evero, this is a tremendous landing spot.
Bears could steal Ejiro Evero from the Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears have been closely linked this season. Although Chris Tabor’s men managed to pick up their second win of the campaign in Week 15, they are still set for the embarrassment of handing over the No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft to the NFC North outfit following their daring trade to acquire quarterback Bryce Young.
Chicago has been competitive in 2023 without quite doing enough to mount a postseason push. There are good pieces in place. They have young, ascending players capable of further improvements. They are a storied franchise in a good spot when it comes to draft capital and financial resources available.
There is the small matter of Justin Fields’ future to figure out with the likes of Drake Maye and Caleb Williams there for the taking. However, there are far worse teams for Ejiro Evero to end up with if the Carolina Panthers went in a different direction for their next head coach.
The Bears are not a blank canvas. Recent acquisitions by Chicago – D.J. Moore and Montez Sweat – represent core foundational pieces to build around. If those in power decide to stick with Fields, then adding generational wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is something that could speed up their hopes of contending.
This is an organization with plenty of options during the offseason. If Matt Eberflus isn’t part of their future, then Evero makes a ton of sense.
Cowboys could steal Ejiro Evero from the Carolina Panthers
This one takes a little more explaining.
The Dallas Cowboys won’t be firing head coach Mike McCarthy unless there’s a drastic change of heart from owner Jerry Jones. However, the NFC East franchise might be losing Dan Quinn to a head coaching job after they managed to convince him to stick around during the previous cycle.
Quinn is going to be another hot name to watch. If the Cowboys are forced to look for a new defensive coordinator and Ejiro Evero doesn’t get a head coaching gig, a situation could emerge where Jones attempts to lure the respected mind to one of the biggest markets around.
A lot needs to happen for this to come off. It’s unlikely Evero would want to stay in Carolina if he gets overlooked for the top job. Quinn also has to convince another team his poor final years with the Atlanta Falcons were nothing more than a blip on his impressive résumé.
This would be the sort of ambitious splash Jones normally makes at the coordinator positions. It also means he’d have a ready-made head coach waiting in the wings if McCarthy tails off at any stage.
Evero deserves to be a head coach somewhere. If not, getting the chance to lead an often dominant Cowboys’ defense isn’t a bad consolation prize as he waits for bigger and better things.
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