Panthers fire struggling coordinator despite sitting atop NFC South - Saints Wire
It's a bye week for the New Orleans Saints in Week 8, but no news surrounding that team yet. The same cannot be said about another NFC South team. On Friday morning, the Carolina Panthers announced that they are firing defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and defensive passing game coordinator Jonathan Cooley. This was first reported by Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
Fowler reports that defensive line coach Todd Walsh will serve as Carolina's defensive coordinator for the rest of this season. The Panthers lost 27-19 at the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football to kick off Week 8, prompting the move. The loss was their second straight and dropped Carolina to 3-4. New Orleans plays the Panthers on Nov. 15 in Week 10 in the Superdome and are at Carolina on Dec. 13 in Week 14.
Ejiro Evero had been the Panthers defensive coordinator for three seasons since 2024. The Panthers ranked 16th in total defense last season on their way to an NFC South title. So far in 2026, Carolina was 23rd in total defense, ranking 9th against the pass but 30th against the run. The Panthers had allowed at least 25 points in four outings, including 59 to the Bears in the season opener and 43 in a loss to the Buccaneers last weekend.
While the Panthers are shaking up their defensive staff, the Saints are not. New Orleans enters their Week 8 bye ranked lower than Carolina in nearly every defensive category. The Saints are currently 28th in total defense and points allowed, ranking 25th against the pass and 29th against the run. Both the Saints and Panthers are allowing 140 yards per game on the ground and 4.8 per carry. But only one team is demanding better, and it isn’t New Orleans.
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