Panthers fire defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero after losing to Packers in major shakeup
The Carolina Panthers have fired defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley after a 27-19 defeat by the Green Bay Packers. The move is the first coordinator dismissal of the NFL season and comes as Carolina’s defence has struggled, despite the team remaining top of the NFC South.
The Panthers are 3-4 after two consecutive losses, and have conceded an average of 27.6 points per game this season, ranking 27th in the league. Injuries have sidelined several defensive players, including starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson. Defensive line coach Todd Wash will take over as interim coordinator and play-caller; he previously coordinated Jacksonville’s defence, which ranked second in 2017.
In short
- Carolina dismissed two defensive coaches after its loss to Green Bay.
- The Panthers have allowed 27.6 points per game this season.
- Todd Wash takes over as interim coordinator and play-caller.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A change in leadership can be justified when a defence is conceding points at a high rate and the team has lost two games in a row, even while leading its division. The head coach and club must be accountable to players and supporters, and an interim coordinator with prior success may offer a chance to reset the unit and improve results.
The case against
The poor defensive numbers need to be weighed against injuries to key cornerbacks and the limits those absences place on any coordinator’s options. Dismissing Evero and Cooley mid-season could disrupt the team further, and a change in play-calling may not address the underlying personnel problems; continuity might give the defence a better chance to recover.
Explained simply
The Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers are teams in the National Football League (NFL), which is divided into two conferences. The Panthers play in the NFC South, a group of four teams that compete for a place in the play-offs, where teams vie for a chance to reach the championship game, the Super Bowl.
A defensive coordinator plans how a team will stop its opponents from scoring and often calls the defensive plays during a match. The Panthers’ defence has allowed more points than most NFL teams this season, while injuries have kept several players, including starting cornerbacks Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, out of action.
Todd Wash, the Panthers’ defensive line coach, has taken on the interim coordinator role. Changes to coaching and the availability of injured players can affect how a team performs; Carolina’s position near the top of its division makes its results relevant to the NFC South play-off race.