Perhaps the most important hire the New York Jets will make this offseason is their offensive coordinator.
While former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson had no interest in joining the Jets, one of his key assistants appears to be the Jets’ primary offensive coordinator target: Detroit passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand.
Engstrand joined the Lions’ offensive staff as an assistant in 2020. He was their passing game coordinator from 2022-24. Jared Goff enjoyed a career rejuvenation with Engstrand running the passing offense, including becoming an NFL MVP finalist in 2024.
Engstrand has extensive offensive coordinator experience outside the NFL. He held the position with the XFL’s DC Defenders in 2020 and for seven seasons at the University of San Diego (FCS).
With Aaron Glenn coming over from Detroit to be the Jets’ head coach, Engstrand is a natural target for the offensive coordinator position. The question is why Detroit chose to hire John Morton as their offensive coordinator rather than promote Engstrand.
Nevertheless, Engstrand’s success with the Lions makes him an intriguing offensive coordinator target. While the Jets won’t know what his offensive scheming or play-calling looks like at the NFL level until he actually takes the position, hiring a coordinator who held an important role in a highly successful offense is the best step they could take short of hiring an offensive head coach with those credentials.
Glenn nailed his opening press conference with the Jets. Having Engstrand as his first hire could be viewed as another big win.