Although the Broncos have zeroed in on Rams secondary coach Ejiro Evero for their defensive coordinator job, they continue to meet with other candidates.
Panthers secondary coach Jason Simmons interviewed for the Broncos DC job Thursday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. A 10-year NFL veteran, Simmons spent time in Green Bay prior to relocating to Charlotte in 2020. He and Nathaniel Hackett‘s tenures briefly overlapped.
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Simmons, 45, was in his first season as the Packers’ secondary coach in 2019, Hackett’s first year as Green Bay’s offensive coordinator. Having played with the Steelers and Texans from 1998-2007, Simmons has been an NFL assistant since 2015. He joins Evero and Ravens D-line coach Anthony Weaver as names connected to this job. Prior to hiring Dan Quinn, the Cowboys interviewed Simmons for their DC gig last year.
Denver’s DC position will take on greater importance than it has in recent years, with Hackett being an offensive-minded head coach. The Broncos’ previous two HCs — Vance Joseph and Vic Fangio — had overseen the defense. Denver’s 2021 unit ranked in the top 10 in both total defense and points allowed. A former college teammate of Hackett’s, Evero remains the favorite. But the longtime Rams assistant cannot be hired until after Super Bowl LVI.