Aaron Glenn’s first season as head coach of the New York Jets did not go as planned. After taking over in 2025, the former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator watched his team stumble to a 3–14 record, the second-worst mark in the NFL. Even more concerning was the Jets’ defensive production — despite Glenn’s defensive background, the unit failed to record a single interception all season.

While Glenn shoulders responsibility for the team’s struggles, the offensive woes were a shared burden. Former Lions assistant Tanner Engstrand stepped into the offensive coordinator role for the first time in his career, inheriting a difficult situation. Subpar quarterback play and a thin wide receiver group made success hard to come by, leaving the offense unable to find consistent rhythm.

Despite those challenges, changes appear to be coming for Engstrand. According to SNY’s Connor Hughes, the Jets are expected to remove play-calling duties from the first-year coordinator moving forward. Hughes also reported that New York is still evaluating Engstrand’s role within the organization, while planning to bring in a new, experienced playcaller to run the offense.

Engstrand’s Changing Role Could Catch Detroit’s Attention

The move is a tough break for Engstrand, particularly given the circumstances surrounding his first season as an NFL offensive coordinator. With the Jets reportedly seeking a veteran to take control of the offense, Engstrand’s long-term future in New York looks uncertain. If his responsibilities continue to shrink, it wouldn’t be surprising if he explores other opportunities in the coming offseason.

Should that happen, Detroit could emerge as a logical landing spot. Lions head coach Dan Campbell has previously shown a willingness to reunite with familiar faces, most notably when he brought John Morton back to Detroit after Morton spent time with the Denver Broncos. While that reunion didn’t ultimately deliver the desired results, it demonstrated Campbell’s openness to reconnecting with coaches he trusts.

Campbell will be hoping that current offensive coordinator Drew Petzing proves to be the right fit moving forward. If that experiment falls short, however, it could further strengthen the case for giving Engstrand another opportunity within the organization.

Engstrand’s coaching roots run deep in Detroit. He began his NFL coaching journey with the Lions, spending five seasons in a variety of offensive roles, including offensive assistant, offensive quality control coach, passing game coordinator, and tight ends coach. Few coaches are as familiar with Campbell’s offensive preferences and expectations as Engstrand.

For now, Engstrand’s future with the Jets remains unclear. But a significant reduction in his responsibilities could put him squarely on Detroit’s radar, potentially positioning him as a candidate for an expanded assistant or position-coach role in the near future.