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Engstrand

Engstrand was one-and-done as the Jets’ offensive coordinator after the team decided to move on once they realized they would strip him of play-calling duties. The 43-year-old coach will now oversee the Falcons’ passing game under head coach Kevin Stefanski, a role that he also had from 2022 to 2024 with the Lions. Engstrand won’t have Ben Johnson as offensive coordinator to make his passing game look good in Atlanta, but hopefully a familiar role will give him a chance to rebound following a rough year with Gang Green.

Well, it really made no sense to keep Engstrand and find a new playcaller, so we guess from that point of view it makes sense. Engstrand’s run game was versatile and varied and he probably deserves a role as someone’s run game coordinator at the very worst next year — perhaps he’ll head back to Detroit. The Jets will do whatever it is the Jets do from here, which from the looks of their defensive coordinator search probably means they’ll wind up paralyzed by overanalyzing 10 different candidates. Frank Reich has been the rumored playcaller replacement for the Jets in recent days.

Reich, if he’s hired by the Jets, is expected to call plays for the team’s offense, per Hughes. That would mean current offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand would be demoted following a 2025 season in which the talent-bare Jets offense had the NFL’s fourth lowest EPA per play and third lowest success rate. Hughes said Engstrand could maintain his OC title. Reich, a former NFL quarterback, served as offensive coordinator for the Chargers and Eagles before becoming the Colts’ head coach and then the Panthers’ head coach. Both head coaching tenures proved disastrous.

An offensive coordinator not calling plays for a defensive-minded head coach certainly evokes a strong whiff of “what would you say you do here?” Hughes added that former Colts and Panthers HC Frank Reich is “among the names” he’s heard linked to the Jets. This is certainly an out-of-left-field development as the Jets’ run game was mostly praised last year despite what looked to be a pretty elementary passing game. Perhaps they’re trying to find someone who can assist with the passing part.

Hooker spent time with the Panthers this season, but spent two seasons with the Lions after they drafted him in the 2023 NFL Draft’s third round. Jets OC Tanner Engstrand served as the Lions’ passing game coordinator from 2023-2024. Adding Hooker to the team’s practice squad makes sense.

According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Engstrand’s “anticipated departure from Detroit is complete.” He adds that “barring something unforeseen,” Engstrand will be named as Aaron Glenn’s offensive coordinator. Engstrand has worked with the Lions since 2020 and was named passing game coordinator in 2023. He has worked closely with former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and should have plenty to offer an offense that is hoping to improve on last year’s 24th-place finish in both points and yards per game. The Jets have a lot to figure out on offense as far as Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are concerned, but Engstrand should get a decent leash from Glenn, who is no stranger to the work that goes into turning a franchise around.

This news comes on the heels of learning that Rams pass game coordinator Nick Caley told the Jets he was not interested in the position. Engstrand has familiarity with head coach Aaron Glenn after the two have spent the last four seasons together in Detroit. Engstrand has worked as the Lions’ pass game coordinator since 2022 and presumably worked closely with former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who was hired as the Bears’ head coach earlier this month. We’re still waiting for official word on Engstrand’s hiring, but we’d expect something to finalized soon.

Heiden has just one season of offensive line coach experience under his belt, having coached the position for the Cardinals in 2018. He coached tight ends with the Cardinals (2019-2022) and Lions (2023-2024) after that. Heiden follows new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn from Detroit to the Big Apple. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero notes Lions pass game coordinator “Tanner Engstrand [is] the favorite to come aboard as” the Jets’ new offensive coordinator.

With the Lions hiring John Morton as offensive coordinator and bypassing Engstrand, it makes plenty of sense for him to explore his other options. Wilson adds “many league sources expressed confidence [Engstrand] will land the job.” The assumed favorite for Jets offensive coordinator appeared to be Nick Caley, but it’s possible that the Jets just never expected Engstrand to actually be available. This could escalate quickly as the league moves to fill offensive coordinator chairs, and Engstrand would obviously have a huge role as playcaller in New York with Aaron Glenn coming up on the defensive side of the ball.

With OC Ben Johnson remaining in Motown, the league is now trying to raid the rest of the staff. 41-year-old Engstrand had never coached at the NFL level before joining Dan Campbell’s staff in 2021. He was last an offensive coordinator in 2011-12 for the NCAA’s San Diego. It’s a similar experience level to new ‘Hawks coach Mike Macdonald, whom Engstrand has never coached with but likely knows through their mutual Harbaugh connections. It would be an intriguing hire.