The Pittsburgh Steelers have requested to speak with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero for their open head coaching job, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network .
Evero is the sixth reported candidate the Steelers have reached out to interview — joining Los Angeles Rams passing coordinator Nate Scheelhaase , Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula , Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver , Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter .
Evero just recently received an extension from the Panthers. Carolina's defense took massive steps forward in 2025. The unit allowed 327.2 total yards (16th) and 22.4 points (15th) per game in 2025, a drastic change from the 404.5 yards (32nd) and 31.4 points (32nd) they gave up in 2024.
"If you look at EJ, if you're around him every day—you see the way he works, how smart he is," Panthers general manager Dan Morgan said . "I believe in his defense, I believe in his philosophy. He's really good at developing players.
"Again, it's my job as well to put him with the right personnel. And again, it's a patience thing to where we're gonna attack those needs and we're gonna get better across the board. As you see us keep adding talent on our roster, players on our roster developing—I think you'll see that defense keep ascending."
Evero, 45, has been the Panthers' DC since 2023. Before joining Carolina, he was the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator for one season in 2022. Prior to that, he spent five seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, serving as their safeties coach from 2017-2020 and secondary coach/ passing game coordinator in 2021. Evero was a part of the Rams' Super Bowl-winning team in 2021.
Of the six interview requests, five are current defensive coordinators.
The Steelers have plucked three relatively unknown defensive coordinators and watched them grow into the best head coaches in the franchise's history. After longtime leader Mike Tomlin resigned on Tuesday, Steelers president Art Rooney II isn't pigeonholing his head coaching search to fit the same criteria.
"For now, I don't wanna sort of put any real parameters around it," Rooney said during a press conference on Wednesday. "We're gonna be an open book in terms of who we look for and the list that we build. Can I sign up for another Chuck Noll or another Bill Cowher or another Mike Tomlin? Sure. Somebody that we feel fits that mold would be great, but, for now, we're not gonna narrow the box too much."
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Request to Interview Rising Panthers DC
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