The Jets created an opening at offensive coordinator by firing Tanner Engstrand last week and their search for a new one is set to move forward this week.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that former Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman will have an in-person interview for the job. The Jets also interviewed Darrell Bevell, Ronald Curry, Frank Reich, and Lunda Wells virtually and are expected to have two others in for in-person meetings.
Roman spent the last two seasons with the Chargers, but was dismissed after their playoff loss to the Patriots. Mike McDaniel is now the offensive coordinator on Jim Harbaugh’s staff.
Roman has also been an offensive coordinator with the Ravens, Bills, and 49ers.
Former Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand has found a new job.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Engstrand will be joining Kevin Stefanski’s staff in Atlanta as the Falcons’ offensive passing game coordinator. The Jets fired Engstrand last week after one year as their coordinator.
The Jets finished 31st in points scored and 25th in yards during Engstrand’s one year on the job.
Engstrand spent five seasons on the Lions’ staff before making the move to the Jets after Aaron Glenn was hired as their head coach. He was the passing game coordinator during his final two seasons in Detroit.
The Falcons have also hired Tommy Rees as their offensive coordinator and Alex Van Pelt as their quarterbacks coach.
Jon Gruden is denying a report that he turned down an opportunity to join the Jets’ coaching staff.
Gruden said on WDAE that he didn’t hear anything from the Jets, and he suggested that most of what’s been said about his potential return to coaching has been false.
“There’s a lot of reports we’re not going to get into. There’s a lot of stupid rumors out there. Some of these reports are ridiculous,” Gruden said. “Let’s just say that there was never anything from the Jets and I wish them well in their search for a new offensive coordinator.”
Gruden lost his job as head coach of the Raiders when offensive emails he had sent surfaced during the 2021 season. He has done some consulting with NFL teams since then, but he hasn’t returned to coaching.
The 62-year-old Gruden went 117-112 in his coaching career, which included two stints as coach of the Raiders and one with the Buccaneers. His Bucs team won Super Bowl XXXVII.
Nathaniel Hackett is back on a coaching staff as a position coach.
The Dolphins have hired Hackett as their quarterbacks coach, Dan Graziano of ESPN reports.
Hackett spent last season as a defensive analyst for the Packers.
He previously was the offensive coordinator for the Bills (2013-14), Jaguars (2016-18), Packers (2019-21) and Jets (2023-24). He was the Jaguars’ quarterbacks coach in 2015-16, and the Broncos’ head coach in 2022.
Hackett went 4-11 in his 15 games as head coach before the Broncos fired him.
Now the question becomes: Who will be the starter in Hackett’s quarterbacks room?
The Dolphins are expected to move on from Tua Tagovailoa after benching him for rookie Quinn Ewers, who started the final three games.
The possibility of a one-and-done stint for Jets coach Aaron Glenn was real, and a significant buyout likely became a major factor in getting him another season. The massive overhaul in the initial coaching staff Glenn hired says plenty about where things may go if the situation doesn’t improve.
Glenn fired defensive coordinator Steve Wilks during the season. This week, offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand was fired.
In between, Glenn fired quarterbacks coach Charles London, pass game coordinator Scott Turner, linebackers coach Aaron Curry, defensive line coach Eric Washington, assistant defensive backs coach Dre Bly, defensive assistant Alonso Escalante, and defensive assistant Roosevelt Williams.
That’s nine of 21 assistants, dumped after one year. Which definitely creates buyout obligations.
But nothing like the $40 million or more than Glenn would have been owed for the remaining four years on his contract.
The changes to a group of coaches Glenn hired only one year ago makes it clear that the clock is already ticking, and that the heat is already rising for Glenn.
