The pieces are coming together. After locking down their head coach (Aaron Glenn), general manager (Darren Mougey), defensive coordinator (Steve Wilks), and special teams coordinator (Chris Banjo), the New York Jets are closing in on an offensive coordinator.
According to Zack Rosenblatt, the Jets are finalizing a deal with Detroit Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand to make him their new offensive coordinator.
According to Connor Hughes, the Jets “made a run” at Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator Nick Caley for their OC role, but Caley made it known that he is not interested in the job.
Engstrand, a former college quarterback at San Diego State, played a pivotal role in the Lions’ offensive resurgence throughout the 2020s. The 42-year-old was brought to Detroit as an offensive assistant under head coach Matt Patricia in 2020, and was retained by new head coach Dan Campbell in 2021 as a quality control coach.
In 2022, Engstrand was promoted to Detroit’s tight ends coach and passing game coordinator. He dropped the tight ends title in 2023, but remained the passing game coordinator from 2023-24.
While he has coached football since 2005, Engstrand only had three stops prior to joining Detroit. He spent 13 seasons at the University of San Diego (2005-17), working his way up from graduate assistant to serving triple duty as assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach from 2013-17.
Engstrand joined the University of Michigan as an offensive assistant in 2018. From 2019-20, he was the offensive coordinator and running backs coach for the XFL’s DC Defenders.
