The Carolina Panthers are coming off their best season in nearly a decade, with the franchise finally on track for sustained success with a quarterback and head coach in place. However, just weeks removed from a playoff appearance, there is reportedly a chance the Panthers coaching staff will be poached.
According to ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero is “still in the mix” to become the Las Vegas Raiders head coach. While the majority of candidates have been eliminated, Evero is firmly under consideration.
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Evero’s meetings with Las Vegas have gone very well, with Fowler noting that Carolina’s defensive play-caller “conveyed detailed QB and offensive” plans during his in-person sit-down with club officials. In addition, he and the organization both have ties to the Denver Broncos.
Under head coach Dave Canales, Carolina is coming off its first playoff appearance since the 2017 season with its first division title in a decade. With that success comes NFL teams taking an interest in the Panthers coaching staff, as we have seen this offseason.
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Carolina has not had a top-shelf defense under Evero, but the roster itself has largely been an issue. He is extremely well-regarded around the league for his defensive mind and has long been viewed as a potential NFL head-coaching candidate.
If the Raiders hire Evero, the Rooney Rule would result in the Panthers receiving compensatory third-round picks in the 2026 and 2027 NFL drafts. As for who would be the defensive coordinator in Carolina, Canales could pursue someone from his former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, or promote one of the current assistants on the Panthers coaching staff.
