Aaron Glenn is making sweeping changes to the New York Jets’ coaching staff, and on Tuesday, he made his most significant move yet-firing offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand.
It’s a bold step, but one that feels overdue given the context. Over the past few weeks, nearly half the league has cycled through offensive coordinator hires.
While Glenn held onto Engstrand, top candidates were scooped up across the NFL. Now, with the Jets sitting at 3-14 and facing a pivotal offseason, the urgency to reshape the offensive identity is greater than ever.
Let’s put this in perspective. In the time Glenn waited to make the move, several AFC teams acted decisively.
The Chargers brought in Mike McDaniel to replace Greg Roman. Miami promoted Bobby Slowik to fill Frank Smith’s role.
Eric Bieniemy returned to Kansas City, stepping in for Matt Nagy. And on the very same day Engstrand was let go, the Titans hired Brian Daboll to take over for Nick Holz.
That’s a lot of movement-and a lot of missed opportunity. Whether Glenn was weighing options or simply slow to pull the trigger, the reality is the Jets now find themselves sifting through a thinner pool of candidates.
Still, not all hope is lost. There are experienced names still on the board.
Joe Lombardi became available after the Broncos let him go following their AFC Championship loss. Kevin Patullo is also looking for a landing spot after being cut loose by the Eagles.
And then there are the big names-Kliff Kingsbury, Brian Callahan, Frank Reich-coaches with head coaching experience who could offer a steady hand and a new vision for an offense that desperately needs one.
But let’s be honest: this isn’t just about finding the right offensive coordinator. It’s about salvaging what’s left of a rough start to Glenn’s head coaching tenure.
The Jets’ 2025 season was nothing short of a disaster. A 3-14 record is bad enough on its own, but the team also made the wrong kind of history-becoming the first team since 1933, when interceptions were officially tracked, to finish a season without a single pick.
That’s not just a defensive issue. That’s a symptom of a team that lacked energy, execution, and identity across the board.
And according to one former general manager, the problems ran deeper than X’s and O’s. Speaking anonymously to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the former exec didn’t hold back when asked about the culture Glenn was trying to build.
“He talked about swagger and toughness,” the former GM said, “but I didn’t see any of that. They played like a bunch of guys punching time clocks; they didn’t want to be there.”
That’s a damning indictment, and it underscores just how much work Glenn has ahead of him. Culture change isn’t about slogans or soundbites-it’s about buy-in, accountability, and results. And right now, the Jets are lacking all three.
The clock is ticking. The new league year begins March 11, and with the second overall pick in the draft, the Jets have a golden opportunity to reset the franchise’s trajectory. But that starts with getting the coaching staff right-particularly on offense, where the Jets have struggled for years to find stability.
Aaron Glenn still has time to turn things around. But if the Jets are going to climb out of the NFL’s basement, it’ll take more than just firing a coordinator. It’ll take a clear vision, the right hires, and a locker room that finally believes in the direction it’s headed.