Carolina Panthers request interview with Denver Broncos' Ejiro Evero for defensive coordinator job

Frank Reich is looking to swing big at defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers.

The freshly-minted Panthers head coach comes from an offensive background, so his defensive coordinator hire will be the biggest decision he makes pertaining to his coaching staff. On Saturday, Reich and the Panthers made one of their candidates known, requesting to interview lauded Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero for the same gig, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

“The #Panthers requested an interview with #Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero for their DC job, per source,” tweeted Pelissero. “Carolina previously interviewed Evero for their head coaching job and he impressed. The #Vikings want to interview him for DC, too.”

As Pelissero mentioned, Evero interviewed for Reich’s gig, so it’s evident the Panthers think highly of the Broncos assistant. While usually you’re not allowed to leave for the same level of job in the NFL, Evero is likely to be available due to the fact that Sean Payton is unlikely to retain him with the AFC West franchise.

Whichever team lands Ejiro Evero will be elated. Whether it’s the Panthers or not remains to be seen.

More on Carolina Panthers, hiring of Frank Reich

Moreover, the Carolina Panthers hired former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich to be the next head coach, the franchise announced last week. The announcement came less than an hour after it was reported that Reich was among the two finalists. The other was interim head coach Steve Wilks.

Alas, Reich takes over as the Panthers head coach after a nearly five-year run as the Colts head coach. Previously he was an offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he won a Super Bowl in 2018.

Reich played in the NFL as a quarterback, spending much of his career as a backup to Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly. After 10 years in Buffalo, he spent one season with the Panthers in 1995 as the first starting quarterback in the history of the franchise, before brief stints with the New York Jets and Detroit Lions to finish his playing career.

Additionally, Reich is the first head coach in franchise history to come from a background of playing and coaching offense. All the pervious coaches, from Dom Capers in 1995 through Matt Rhule and Wilks in 2022, every Panthers head coach had been a defensive coach prior.