Aaron Glenn makes most important coaching hire and it wasn't his first choice

For weeks, the idea of hiring a defensive minded coach has looked to be the way the New York Jets were leaning in their search and when they zeroed in on Glenn the only question became, who would be his offensive coordinator. And now we have our answer. According to reports, the New York Jets […]

Mike Antoniou
Add as preferred source on Google
Detroit Lions pass game coordinator Tanner Engstrand watches practice at Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

For weeks, the idea of hiring a defensive minded coach has looked to be the way the New York Jets were leaning in their search and when they zeroed in on Glenn the only question became, who would be his offensive coordinator. And now we have our answer.

According to reports, the New York Jets are hiring former Detroit Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand.

Engstrand became the favorite to land the job once Los Angeles Rams passing coordinator Nick Caley informed the Jets he wasn’t interested in the job. The move was further telegraphed when the Lions hired former Stanford coach David Shaw on Thursday to replace Engstrand as the passing game coordinator.

Glenn and Engstrand worked together the past few season with Lions and Engstrand is the second Lions offensive coach Glenn has brought with him to NY. Lions TE coach Steve Heiden was hired to be NY’s OL coach. AtoZ sports Detroit Lions writer Mike Payton had this to say about the new Jets OC.

“Engstrand has been a rising star with the Lions for some time now. He spent the last three years under Ben Johnson’s tutelage and was expected to be the to heir apparent to the Lions OC job. That idea has cooled off recently and the team went another direction. It seems as though he’s ready for the job and can bring a lot to the table in terms of what the Jets can do offensively. Don’t expect Ben Johnson levels of trick plays but do expect some innovation on offense and do expect that he’ll get the most out of the pass game.”

Glenn isn't the only connection that new Jets OC Tanner Engstrand had to the organization. He also shared a QB room with new Jets GM Darren Mougey at San Diego State in 2004 when they were both backup quarterbacks to current Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.

This is a dangerous hire that has the makings of a boom or bust choice for Glenn. Engstrand has no NFL OC experience and was part of a system that was run by a true guru in Ben Johnson. I am concerned that both Johnson, now with the Chicago Bears and Dan Campbell with Lions have passed on making Engstrand their offensive coordinator. It is a bit of a red flag that the Lions went outside the organization for their new offensive coordinator instead of making the easy promotion with Engstrand.

On the other hand, the move could pay off big for the Jets. The Lions have had the 2nd best passing offense in the entire NFL both in 2023 & 2024, both years that Engstrand was the passing game coordinator in Detroit.

Engstrand’s success might all come down to who is playing quarterback for the 42-year old first time offensive coordinator. I do wonder if a first time OC will be able to handle the 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers.

With the three coordinator spots now filled, Aaron Glenn and company can work on rounding out the coaching staff and shaping the roster for the 2025 season.

Related Articles