After a rough 3-14 campaign in his first year as head coach, Aaron Glenn isn’t wasting time reshaping the New York Jets’ coaching staff. Seven assistants are already out, but the real headline isn’t who’s gone - it’s what’s next for offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand.
Despite overseeing an offense that ranked 29th in both total yards and scoring, Engstrand is staying on Glenn’s staff. But his role is shifting, and fast.
According to multiple reports, including NFL insider Aaron Wilson, the Jets are expected to redefine the “role, responsibilities, [and] structure” of their offensive operation heading into 2026. That includes one key change: Engstrand is not expected to call plays next season.
That’s a significant move. Play-calling duties are the heartbeat of any offensive coordinator’s job, and stripping them away typically signals one of two things - a lack of confidence or a strategic pivot.
In this case, it looks like the Jets are leaning toward the latter. SNY’s Connor Hughes reports that the team is in the market for a new play caller, and veteran coach Frank Reich is among the names being floated as a possible addition.
Now, let’s be clear: Engstrand’s first year didn’t go according to plan. But it’s tough to pin the Jets’ offensive struggles solely on him.
He was handed a quarterback carousel that included Justin Fields, Tyrod Taylor, and rookie Brady Cook. None of them found a rhythm, and the result was an offense that never quite got off the ground.
Still, there were some encouraging signs in Engstrand’s system. His passing concepts consistently generated intermediate separation - a key marker of modern offensive design - and the Jets’ ground game quietly finished 11th in the league, averaging 123.3 rushing yards per game. That’s not nothing, especially behind an offensive line that battled injuries and inconsistency all season.
So while Engstrand won’t be calling plays in 2026, his continued presence signals that the Jets still see value in his schematic approach. Bringing in a veteran like Reich could be the best of both worlds - pairing Engstrand’s modern concepts with the steady hand of a seasoned play caller. That’s a smart way to build continuity while also raising the floor of an offense that desperately needs stability.
This isn’t a teardown - it’s a recalibration. Glenn and the Jets are acknowledging what didn’t work, but they’re also recognizing what might still be worth developing. As the team looks to bounce back from a forgettable season, how they restructure this offensive brain trust could be one of the most pivotal storylines of the offseason.