Despite being among the NFL’s top teams this season, the Detroit Lions are learning that success has a cost. During this year’s coaching cycle, a number of coaches went on to larger responsibilities, and the Lions lost both coordinators when Aaron Glenn resigned to become the head coach of the New York Jets and Ben Johnson joined the Chicago Bears as head coach.
Tanner Engstrand, the Lions’ passing game coordinator, may be the most recent, as he was rejected for the position of offensive coordinator in Detroit last week. Although nothing is official, he might join a well-known person to receive the promotion he was denied with the Lions.
The New York Jets’ Aaron Glenn Examining Tanner Engstrand for the Position of Offensive Coordinator According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, Engstrand was in serious talks on Tuesday to become the offensive coordinator for the Jets. According to Aaron Wilson of Houston’s KPRC2-TV, “many league sources have expressed confidence” that the 42-year-old will be hired.
Since 2020, Engstrand has been an integral part of the Lions’ staff, and he has served as the passing game coordinator for the past two seasons. With Engstrand in the position, Detroit’s offense has flourished, finishing second in the NFL with 69 touchdown passes, first with 8,875 yards, and with a passer rating of 105.0 during the past two seasons.
If he had been selected to take Johnson’s place as offensive coordinator, that would have been a reasonable decision. Engstrand is now searching for a comparable promotion after the Lions decided to hire John Morton, the passing game coordinator for the Denver Broncos.
Even though there is some competition, it is not surprising that Glenn, who has been the defensive coordinator for the last four years, is vying for Engstrand’s services in New York. The Los Angeles Rams tight end coach and passing coordinator Nick Caley, the Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator Scott Turner, and Lions quarterback coach Mark Brunell were all named as possible candidates for the position of offensive coordinator, according to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports.
Engstrand may leave the Lions staff this offseason as it currently looks like he is the one who will lose the position of offensive coordinator to the Jets.