Panthers complete interviews with Rams DC Raheem Morris, Cowboys DC Dan Quinn

The Carolina Panthers are rolling through head coach interviews this week. On Wednesday, the team announced the completion of an interview with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. They also interviewed Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Morris coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-2011 and also served as an interim head coach for the Atlanta Falcons before taking over the Rams’ defense in 2021. He helped Los Angeles win the Super Bowl in his first season as the coordinator. The defense had the No. 1 run defense and No. 3 pass defense that season.

This season, L.A.’s defense was 18th in total yards allowed, 12th in rushing defense, and 20th in passing defense. Overall, the unit finished as the league’s 18th-best in points allowed per game (22.3).

Each year it has seemed like Dan Quinn would leave the Cowboys to once again dive into a head coaching job. Either due to a lack of significant interest or Jerry Jones’ deal-making, he’s chosen to continue building under Mike McCarthy. The Cowboys are bringing McCarthy back for 2024 but Quinn’s status is up in the air.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Morris also has interview requests from Washington, Seattle and Los Angeles. Quinn has a similar lineup of interviews. He completed one with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday.

The Carolina Panthers have already completed interviews with their own defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, as well as Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith, Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.

Panthers’ Ejiro Evero to interview with Seahawks

Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero met with the Seahawks on Wednesday, according to ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler. Seattle opted to end the Pete Carroll era after 14 years last week and embarked on a new coaching search. The Seahawks barely missed out on making the postseason this year after finishing with a 9-8 record.

Evero would have huge shoes to fill if he took the head coaching position in Seattle. Carroll, 72, had a 137-89-1 record with the Seahawks since coming in ahead of the 2010 season.

Evero is also a candidate to take the top job in Carolina following the firing of Frank Reich after 11 games during the season. He completed an interview with the Panthers last week. However, the team could also try to hold on to the defensive coordinator for their next head coach.

Though the Panthers notched just two wins and allowed 24.5 points per game, under Evero, the defense allowed 293.9 total yards per game this season, good for fourth in the league. Evero has coached in Carolina for just one season. He joined the team after serving as the Broncos defensive coordinator in 2022.