Panthers relieve Ejiro Evero of defensive coordinator role

The Carolina Panthers have relieved Ejiro Evero of defensive coordinator duties, parting ways with him and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley after a 27-19 Thursday night loss to the Green Bay Packers. Head coach Dave Canales named defensive line coach Todd Wash the interim defensive coordinator. The moves were confirmed Friday in a team announcement and mark a midseason overhaul of Carolina's defensive leadership.

Key Takeaways

• Ejiro Evero is out as Carolina's defensive coordinator, ending a tenure that began in 2023.
• Defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley was also released in the same staff shakeup.
• Todd Wash, previously the defensive line coach, is interim defensive coordinator and will call the plays.
• The changes followed a 27-19 loss to Green Bay that dropped the Panthers to 3-4.
• AC Carter will add defensive line duties; secondary coach Renaldo Hill keeps the defensive backs.

Why did the Panthers relieve Ejiro Evero now?

The timing is tied directly to Thursday Night Football. Carolina surrendered 27 points to the Packers and fell to 3-4, prompting Canales to make major defensive coaching changes the next day.

According to reporting summarized by Yahoo Sports, Packers quarterback Jordan Love completed 30 of 41 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns. Green Bay built a 27-10 lead before the Panthers tried a late comeback that still ended in a 27-19 defeat.

Ejiro Evero had run Carolina's defense since 2023. The club's decision to relieve him midseason signals that Canales wanted a different defensive voice after inconsistent results, even though Carolina had beaten the Detroit Lions 32-26 earlier this month.

Yahoo Sports noted the contrast with Detroit, where head coach Dan Campbell publicly backed his defensive coordinator despite early struggles. Carolina chose a different path after the Packers loss, opting for a clear change at the top of the defensive staff.

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Who is replacing Ejiro Evero as defensive coordinator?

Todd Wash is the new interim defensive coordinator and will call the defensive plays. The Carolina Panthers' official announcement confirmed Canales' decision and outlined Wash's background.

Wash joined Carolina's staff in 2023. He brings 31 years of coaching experience, including 20 seasons in the NFL. He previously spent five seasons (2016-20) as defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In 2017, Wash's Jaguars defense ranked second in the league and reached the AFC Championship Game. That resume is why Carolina is trusting him to stabilize play-calling while the team finishes the 2026 season under new defensive leadership.

Wash's promotion keeps continuity on the roster side of the building. He already knew the personnel from his defensive line role, which may help the unit absorb the sudden change after Evero's exit.

What else changed on Carolina's defensive coaching staff?

Jonathan Cooley's departure is the second major hit. Cooley served as defensive passing game coordinator and, per Yahoo Sports, had worked closely with the secondary and passing defense. He was released alongside Evero.

With Wash moving up, outside linebackers coach and run game specialist AC Carter will expand his responsibilities to include coaching the defensive line. That keeps the front seven covered while Wash focuses on overall defensive play-calling.

Secondary coach Renaldo Hill will continue to oversee the defensive backs. The Panthers did not announce further secondary staff changes in the Friday release, so Hill remains the constant in the back end after Cooley's exit.

Taken together, the shakeup touches coordinator, passing-game coordination, and defensive line instruction in one day. It is a substantial midseason reset for a 3-4 team trying to climb the NFC South standings.

How does this affect the Panthers going forward?

Carolina is still early enough in the 2026 season for the move to matter. Yahoo Sports framed the overhaul as coming just eight weeks into the year, with Wash stepping into an interim role as the club tries to turn the defense around.

The immediate question is whether Wash can slow opposing quarterbacks after Love carved up Carolina for three scores. Evero's unit had shown flashes—including the Lions win—but the Packers tape made clear that Canales wanted different results from the call sheet.

Wash's prior coordinator experience in Jacksonville gives him a ready-made play-calling background. Carter absorbing the defensive line should limit disruption on the edge and interior while Wash manages game plans and in-game adjustments.

Hill staying with the defensive backs is another stabilizing piece after Cooley left. Continuity in the secondary coaching room may help Carolina clean up coverage issues that showed up against Green Bay's passing attack.

None of the available team or wire reports named a permanent successor beyond Wash's interim title. For now, Ejiro Evero's Carolina chapter is closed, Cooley is gone, and Wash holds the defensive headset as the Panthers look to respond after falling to 3-4.

Fans tracking the fallout should watch how quickly Wash installs his preferences and whether Carolina's points allowed improve in the coming weeks. The franchise's own statement and Friday confirmation remain the clearest record of what changed and who is in charge on defense.