Ejiro Evero is in his second season as defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2023, joining the team after one season as the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos in 2022. Evero (full name pronounced: A-jer-OH E-ver-OH) has 19 years of coaching experience, including 16 in the NFL.
During his first season with the Panthers in 2023, Evero's unit allowed 293.9 yards per game, which was the fourth-fewest allowed in the NFL and third lowest in a season in franchise history. The defense's 171.5 passing yards per game set a franchise record and third-fewest in the NFL in 2023. Under the guidance of Evero, DT Derrick Brown was named to his first Pro Bowl and set an NFL record for most tackles by a defensive lineman in a season with a career-high 103. Brown was the only player in the NFL to record 100+ tackles, 15+ quarterback hits and 7+ tackles for loss.
Under Evero's watch, the 2022 Broncos defense ranked seventh in the NFL in total defense (320.0 yards per game), 10th in rushing defense, and second in opponent third down conversion percentage (34.1%). The team also finished in the top 10 in opponent points per drive (seventh – 1.71), opponent red zone touchdown rate (seventh – 51.1%), and defensive three-and-out percentage (fourth – 37.9). The defense also ranked just outside the top 10 in a number of categories, including rushing yards per carry (11th – 4.26 ), pass defense (12th – 210.2 yards per game), and total takeaways (14th – 23).
A pair of Broncos' defensive backs – cornerback Patrick Surtain II and safety Justin Simmons – garnered postseason accolades. Surtain received First Team AP All-Pro honors and was named a starter for the AFC Pro Bowl team, while Simmons earned Second Team AP All-Pro honors for his efforts. Surtain II excelled in his second year in the NFL, racking up 60 total tackles, two interceptions, and 10 passes defensed. Simmons finished the 2022 campaign with a career-high six interceptions, which tied for the most in the NFL.
Prior to Denver, Evero spent five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, serving as secondary coach/pass game coordinator (2021) and safeties coach (2017-20).
Under Evero's watch in 2021, the Rams ranked tied for third in interceptions (19) and had 10 different players record at least one pick. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey and safety Taylor Rapp tied for the team lead in interceptions (4) and ranked tied for sixth in the NFC. Evero coached Ramsey to his second career Associated Press All-Pro selection and third career Pro Bowl. Ramsey played 16 games for the fourth time in his career, totaling a career-high 76 tackles (62 solo), four interceptions (41 yds.), 16 passes defensed, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Among teams who participated in the 2022 NFL playoffs, the Rams ranked second in total yards per game (282.3) and third in passing yards per contest (222.0) while generating at least one interception in each of the team's first three playoff games. The Rams surrendered just 18.8 points per game en route to a 23-20 victory over Cincinnati in Super Bowl LVI.
In 2020, Evero oversaw the back end of the league's top-ranked defense. The Rams ranked first in scoring defense (18.5), total yards per game (281.9), and passing yards per contest (190.7) while finishing in the Top 10 in sacks (second – 53) and rushing yards per game (third – 91.3).
From 2017-19, the Rams collected a combined 49 interceptions, which ranked second in the league over that span. The club tallied 18 interceptions in consecutive seasons from 2017-18 and featured four safeties who totaled 12 picks in those two years.
Before joining the Rams, Evero spent the 2016 season as a defensive quality control coach for Green Bay. He coached under then-Packers defensive coordinator and former Panthers head coach Dom Capers and was part of a coaching staff that helped lead the Packers to a 10-6 record.
Evero spent the 2010 season coaching at the University of Redlands (Calif.), which is a member of NCAA Division III and the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He served as special teams coordinator/defensive backs coach and was part of a coaching staff that led the team to an 8-1 record that season.
Evero broke into the NFL in 2007 as a defensive quality control coach for Tampa Bay and performed the role for three seasons from 2007-09. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of California-Davis, from 2005-06.
As a player, Evero was a four-year letterman (1999-2000, '02-03) at UC Davis, starting at safety for three seasons. He was a two-time captain for the Aggies and was twice named a Division II All-American (2002-03).
In addition to his undergraduate degree, Evero earned his master's degree in business administration from National University in 2006.
