Los Angeles Rams Safeties Coach Ejiro Evero targeted by USC for defensive staff

Matt LaFleur. Tyrone McKenzie. Greg Olson.

Ejiro Evero?

As the Los Angeles Rams continue to build on their successes under Head Coach Sean McVay, his coaching staff is a hot target for fellow NFL teams and college programs to seek coaching talent to fill out their vacancies.

After last year, Quarterbacks Coach Greg Olson was tabbed by incoming Oakland Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden to be his offensive coordinator, a position Olson had held for several NFL teams before including the St. Louis Rams from 2006-2007. Not long after, then-Offensive Coordinator Matt LaFleur was picked up by the Tennessee Titans for a lateral promotion that would give him more position responsibilities than he was afforded under the offensively minded McVay. The Titans also poached Special Teams Assistant Coach Tyrone McKenzie to boot.

While the Rams staffed up thereafter, they remain a popular seekout for teams looking for up-and-coming football minds. And it would seem we have our newest target of concern for attrition.

FOX Sports/Athletic reporter Bruce Feldman tweeted last night that Rams Safeties Coach Ejiro Evero is being looked at by the USC Trojans following their coaching mini-overhaul:

After playing safety at UC-Davis, Evero nabbed a defensive quality control spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for three years. A one-year stint with the University of Redlands as special teams coordinator and safeties coach preceded him joining Jim Harbaugh’s staff with the San Francisco 49ers for five years and then the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coaching staff in various defensive quality control positions. It wasn’t until 2017 when he joined the Rams that he was promoted to safeties coach working under Cornerbacks Coach Aubrey Pleasant who serves as the de facto defensive backs coach.

And that’s where I would suggest Evero’s name came up for the Trojans having recently let Defensive Backs Coach Ronnie Bradford go last month. Evero would likely have an opportunity for a bigger role at USC than he enjoys with the Rams under Pleasant who is a rising star in league circles on the defensive side. And with significantly more pressure on USC Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast than there is on Rams DC Wade Phillips, Evero could find himself leaned upon in greater circumstances than he would be with the Rams for the near future.

The rumor serves as a good reminder that McVay is going to struggle to keep this staff together, but it’s a sign of success. Having teams come for McVay’s disciples simply means they’re doing something right.

So get used to it, Rams fans. No matter how things play out in the playoffs, we’re going to see various names on the coaching staff pop up throughout the offseason.

Paid the cost to be the boss.