The future of Ejiro Evero could become clearer in the near future. The Broncos have let their defensive coordinator out of his contract, freeing him to interview with other teams for a new opportunity under the same title, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). 
Mike Klis of 9News corroborates that report, adding that Evero preferred to move on from Denver (Twitter link). The 42-year-old was close with ousted head coach Nathaniel Hackett, something which left plenty of doubt in the wake of his firing before the regular season had ended. Evero was offered the interim HC role for the final two games of the campaign, but kept his attention on his DC duties in preparation for a busy schedule of interviews during the 2023 coaching cycle.
In spite of the Broncos’ wishes to keep Evero in place, new head coach Sean Payton is moving on from the former with this decision. As a result, Evero can now meet with the Vikings, who requested an interview with him yesterday. It remained very much in doubt whether or not Denver would block that request – as they previously had done with the Falcons. Now, though, Minnesota is working on scheduling a sit-down for early next week, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer tweets.
As Klis notes, “all signs point to” Evero landing the DC position with the Vikings once that interview takes place. He has been a hot commodity this offseason as one of the league’s fastest-rising coordinators, even receiving head coach consideration from the Panthers last month. Carolina also has an interview request in with Evero for their DC vacancy, as Frank Reich begins to piece together his new staff.
An NFL staffer since 2017, Evero has spent time with the Buccaneers, 49ers, Packers and Rams in a number of capacities. His lone DC spell came this past season with the Broncos, who put up impressive statistics in several categories despite the team’s well-documented struggles all year long. That showing had led to the expectation that Evero will be an NFL head coach not far down the road.
Payton and the Broncos, meanwhile, will now squarely turn their attention elsewhere to fill the DC opening. Denver has interview requests in with Sean Desai and Brian Flores, but more names could be added to the list of their targets with the knowledge that their highly-acclaimed assistant will be heading elsewhere.
Well there goes that opportunity to get picks for him either this OR next year.
then they probably should have let him interview if they wanted picks…
It’s about time. An arranged marriage between him and a new coach always seemed unlikely, especially given that he came to Denver because of his friendship with Hackett. Dude is immediately one of the best, if not the best, DC candidate on the market. It would have been wrong to keep him dangling while those jobs filled up.
They should’ve held out for picks from Minnesota. The league is going to see more of this in the future due to the Rooney change that awards TWO third round picks to the team that loses a minority candidate to a HC position. Good move by Minnesota. The smart teams are taking advantage of this rule. Check out what the Niners have coming their way next year and beyond.
JakeLarue;
Didn’t know that.
Stupid Rule.
Instead they should award a draft pick after the 3rd round to any team that hires a minority HC; then award a second 3rd round draft choice to the team if they keep him after the 1st year. If he’s fired before his second year starts the team will sacrifice their 3rd round draft choice the next year….if they don’t have one they’ll sacrifice one the year after.
Then they should have let him interview with the Vikings or anyone else for that matter.
Nobody’s giving picks for someone they can’t even interview
According to the NFL’s anti-tampering policy, “Except for head coaches and high-level club employees (club presidents, GMs, and persons with equivalent responsibility and authority), clubs are not permitted to exchange draft choices or cash for the release of individuals who are under contract to another organization.”
So it would have never been an option for the Broncos to get anything from whichever team hires Evero.
Additionally, the Broncos wouldn’t have gotten any compensatory picks if Evero were hired as a head coach in this cycle, since that rule requires that the minority candidate be an employee of the team for two consecutive seasons (and this was Evero’s only season in Denver). They would have held onto him for one more season, and he’d have to be hired as a head coach next cycle, which is not a given outcome.
Thanks for the clarification.
This move is just making it so Desai can take over. He’s already been with Payton before and recently cancelled his ravens interview.
Seems like a dumb move
It’s the Broncos, so that is a redundant statement.
Come on Niners! Get him!!!
Minnesota is a right to work state. Don’t anyone give a crap if you quit or get fired.