FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — If he is again with the New York Jets in 2025, Aaron Rodgers’ new offensive coordinator shall be former Detroit Lions assistant Tanner Engstrand.
Engstrand, 42, was employed by the Jets on Friday, the workforce introduced. He’s accustomed to newly employed coach Aaron Glenn, as they spent the previous 4 seasons collectively on Dan Campbell’s workers. Engstrand was the passing recreation coordinator for an offense that scored a league-high 564 factors in 2024.
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As soon as once more, the Jets will go into the season with a first-time head coach and a first-time playcaller on offense. They did the identical factor in 2021 with Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur, who was pushed out after two seasons.
Engstrand walks right into a traditionally unstable job that, for now, has a traditionally nice quarterback.
He would be the Jets’ eleventh playcaller previously 15 years, in all probability one of many the reason why they’ve the Thirty second-ranked scoring offense over that span.
Rodgers, 41, is undecided on whether or not to play a twenty first season. Likewise, the Jets have not mentioned in the event that they need to transfer ahead with the longer term Corridor of Famer, whose 2024 efficiency was uneven. Glenn, in his introductory information convention Monday, mentioned Rodgers shall be evaluated similar to each participant on the roster.
The four-time MVP has had solely 4 playcallers in his profession: Mike McCarthy and Matt LaFleur with the Inexperienced Bay Packers and Nathaniel Hackett and Todd Downing with the Jets. Downing took over final season when Hackett was demoted in Week 6.
The defensive-minded Glenn will lean closely on Engstrand as they chart a course for the offense, which completed twenty fourth in scoring this season.
Additionally on Friday, the Jets employed Chris Harris as move recreation coordinator and defensive backs coach, a supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Harris spent the previous two seasons in an identical function with the Tennessee Titans and had interviewed for the Jets’ defensive coordinator place.
And the Jets introduced the hiring of Chris Banjo as their particular groups coordinator. Banjo, 34, who replaces Brant Boyer, spent the previous two seasons as a particular groups assistant for the Denver Broncos following a 10-year enjoying profession.
Engstrand was thought of a attainable alternative for former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who left to grow to be the Chicago Bears’ head coach, however he was handed over when Campbell opted to go exterior the group to rent John Morton from the Broncos.
Engstrand is a Jim Harbaugh disciple, having labored beneath Harbaugh on the College of San Diego and Michigan. Engstrand has known as performs on the school stage (San Diego) and within the XFL (D.C. Defenders) however has no NFL playcalling expertise. He has a distant connection to new Jets common supervisor Darren Mougey, who had been each quarterbacks at San Diego State in 2004.
The San Diego native spent his subsequent 13 years as an assistant at USD earlier than following Harbaugh to Michigan. In 2020, he landed with the Lions as an offensive assistant beneath coach Matt Patricia, who was fired that 12 months. Engstrand was retained by Campbell in 2021, beginning because the tight ends coach and ultimately being promoted to passing recreation coordinator.
Engstrand inherits an offense with two gifted extensive receivers in Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams, although there’s a probability Adams shall be launched in a salary-cap-related transfer. He additionally will get a flexible working again in Breece Corridor and 4 returning starters on the offensive line.
The large query is the uncertainty at quarterback, one of many the reason why their prime coordinator goal — Los Angeles Rams passing recreation coordinator Nick Caley — reportedly declined an interview.
If Rodgers would not return, the Jets in all probability will add a quarterback. The highest quarterbacks beneath contract are backup Tyrod Taylor, 35, and 2024 fifth-round decide Jordan Travis, who missed his rookie 12 months due to a university damage.
