For once, it seemed like the New York Jets had a competent offensive plan led by a fresh young play-caller. Tanner Engstrand’s work with the unit in 2025 wasn’t always spectacular, but it was light-years ahead of what fans had grown accustomed to.

It still wasn’t enough to save his job.

Engstrand and the Jets agreed to part ways on Tuesday afternoon following a push to demote the 43-year-old from play-calling duties this offseason. While there was an effort to keep Engstrand on staff in a non-play-calling role, it appears he has chosen to seek an opening elsewhere.

It’s hard to blame Engstrand for that decision. It’s the latest development in a massive overhaul for head coach Aaron Glenn and the Jets.

Jets’ full commitment to change

Engstrand’s dismissal means the Jets will have had 13 different offensive play-callers in the last 16 seasons. That isn’t the kind of stability that organizations look for on that side of the ball.

New York’s decision to part ways with Engstrand, though, has another twist.

Engstrand did not pound the table to coach Justin Fields last season. The offensive scheme that Engstrand brought from Detroit is a direct antithesis of what Fields does well.

Despite the mismatch, Engstrand showed promise. Forced to coach three quarterbacks who all failed to hit open receivers (and there were a lot of them), Engstrand essentially coached the offense with one hand tied behind his back. It just wasn’t enough to earn Glenn’s confidence.

New York wanted change. Glenn wanted change. They are going to get exactly that now.

The Jets are pushing for a more experienced play-caller to essentially run the offense on their own, similar to how experienced defensive coordinators do for offensive-minded head coaches.

But it leads to a pressing question: Why didn’t they just hire an experienced play-caller last season?

The answer, unfortunately, goes back to the same person.

Aaron Glenn.

Glenn’s last stand

Part of the reason Glenn was touted as a head coaching candidate was the perception that he could build a quality coaching staff across the board. In just a single season, he has wiped away the majority of his top assistants on both offense and defense.

Not exactly a glowing recommendation for a coach who is trying to save his job.

Make no mistake: Glenn enters the 2026 season on the hot seat. After a 3-14 season and an overhaul in the coaching staff, there’s little room for him to preach patience anymore. He is quite literally the last man standing through this entire overhaul.

Eventually, the chickens come home to roost. There’s no one left to blame if another season goes haywire.

Glenn seems more willing than ever before to focus on what he knows (calling defensive plays) and entrust what he doesn’t to experienced leaders across the board. Why he didn’t do that at the beginning will be a question that follows him over the next few months.

But a coach prepared to go down with the ship is normally a recipe for disaster. After getting rid of a promising offensive play-caller, that seems like all the Jets are headed toward.