Jan. 22, 2026, 1:34 p.m. ET
Is this the year that defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero finally gets his shot at being a head coach? Well, if it is, then the Carolina Panthers would get a little something back for their loss.
As per the Rooney Rule, the Panthers will receive a pair of compensatory third-round picks if Evero is hired away to become a head coach. The selections would be split between the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft and the 2027 NFL Draft.
Evero has garnered interest from a few teams this offseason, including the Las Vegas Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers. He completed his second, in-person interview with Las Vegas on Tuesday and spoke to Pittsburgh virtually on Monday.
The Panthers, as first announced by head coach Dave Canales during his end-of-season presser, extended Evero ahead of the 2025 campaign. Evero was previously thought to have been on an expiring contract prior to Canales’ conference.
“I have complete trust in Ejiro,” Canales told reporters back on Jan. 11. “Love the way that he’s brought this group to play quality football together. He’s got my full support. And love our scheme, love what we do there.”
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In their three seasons under Evero, Carolina has ranked fourth (2023), 32nd (2024) and 16th (2025) in overall defense.
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