Jets Name Tanner Engstrand Offensive Coordinator and Chris Banjo Special Teams Coordinator

The New York Jets announced the hiring of Tanner Engstrand, the Detroit Lions’ passing game coordinator, as their new offensive coordinator, and Chris Banjo, the Denver Broncos’ assistant special teams coach, as their special teams coordinator on Friday.

Steve Wilks, previously the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, agreed to join the Jets as their defensive coordinator on Wednesday.

These appointments complete the coaching staff for new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn. Glenn, who was introduced as the team’s head coach on Monday, had worked with Engstrand for the past four years in Detroit. Engstrand, 42, began with the Lions in 2020 as an offensive assistant and remained with the team after Dan Campbell took over as head coach in 2021.

Engstrand was later promoted to tight ends coach and passing game coordinator, helping lead one of the NFL’s top passing offenses as the Lions scored 564 points this season, the highest in the league.

Engstrand will now join the Jets, where he could work with quarterback Aaron Rodgers, should Rodgers return for another season. Rodgers has one year remaining on his contract but has said he will take time to decide whether he wants to keep playing. The Jets and Glenn will have to determine if they want Rodgers to remain their starting quarterback.

Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who has posted three straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his career, will be a key player for Engstrand, no matter who is behind center. The Jets also have a strong group of running backs, including Breece Hall, Braelon Allen, and Isaiah Davis.

The future of 32-year-old wide receiver Davante Adams remains uncertain. He is set to make $35.64 million each of the next two years, prompting the Jets to consider asking him to restructure his contract or release him soon. Adams has also noted that Rodgers’ future could impact his own decision.

Engstrand, who played quarterback at Grossmont College and San Diego State, began his coaching career in 2005 at the University of San Diego under Jim Harbaugh. He spent 10 years there in various roles, including assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach. Engstrand then rejoined Harbaugh at Michigan in 2018 as an offensive analyst.

In 2020, Engstrand became the offensive coordinator and running backs coach for the DC Defenders in the XFL before moving to the Lions.

Banjo, who takes over as the Jets’ special teams coordinator from Brant Boyer, is a former NFL safety and special teams player. He played 10 seasons in the league with teams like Jacksonville, Green Bay, New Orleans, and Arizona.

After retiring in 2022, Banjo joined the Denver Broncos as assistant special teams coach, where he worked with special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica and assistant head coach Mike Westhoff, known for his special teams expertise.