The Detroit Lions’ pass game coordinator, a candidate to come in for Ben Johnson, is supposedly a candidate for the Patriots’ offensive coordinator position.
Tanner Engstrand, the Detroit Lions’ pass game coordinator, is a candidate to become the New England Patriots’ next offensive coordinator. According to NFL Network, the Patriots intend to interview Engstrand for the role, though no schedule has been set.
Losing Engstrand would be a significant blow to the Lions coaching staff, especially if Detroit loses current offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to one of the two remaining head coach openings (Commanders, Seahawks). Johnson is regarded one of the front-runners for the Washington Commanders position, and he has also interviewed for the Seattle Seahawks post.
Engstrand was one of the internal candidates that qualified to succeed Johnson if he left for a head coaching role. Engstrand was hired as an offensive assistant in 2021 and later became tight ends coach after Johnson was appointed to offensive coordinator. Engstrand was promoted again this year, to pass game coordinator.
“He’s been great and brings different ideas to Ben, different thoughts,” quarterback Jared Goff stated earlier this season. “Instead of overwhelming Ben with questions, I can ask him questions he can answer. Tanner has been really helpful to me in dealing with some of those issues. I had him in the quarterback room my first year, and he has bounced about this facility quite a bit building a couple times, but he’s doing a hell of a job.”
If Engstrand accepts the Patriots’ job, the Lions have other in-house options for the OC position, should it become open. This includes associate head coach/running backs coach Scottie Montgomery, as well as possibly offensive line coach Hank Fraley.
