Rich CiminiJan 27, 2026, 02:09 PM ET
- Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn continued to overhaul his coaching staff, parting ways Tuesday with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand after only one season, sources told ESPN.
The move comes four days after Glenn fired seven assistant coaches, not counting defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who was dismissed with three games remaining in the season.
It's an unusual amount of turnover, considering they were all hired only one year ago. The timing also is odd. The offseason is three weeks old, and teams across the NFL are well into the process of filling out their coaching staffs.
It's unclear why Glenn, coming off a 3-14 season, waited to make these moves. He had multiple discussions with Engstrand about his role, a source said, with Glenn ultimately deciding to move on. Engstrand didn't expect it to unfold like this. When the season ended, he told friends he was excited about the offense's prospects in 2026, a source said.
The search for a new offensive coordinator will begin immediately. The Jets must be Rooney Rule compliant, meaning they must interview at least two minority candidates.
Initially, there was talk about retaining Engstrand in a reduced role (no playcalling duties), but that plan didn't materialize. Glenn is interested in bringing in a veteran playcaller from the outside, and he already has talked with former Carolina Panthers and Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich, a source confirmed.
The Jets haven't announced any offensive coordinator candidates.
Add Engstrand to a long list of one-and-done play callers. The next one will be the 12th different play caller in 16 seasons. The last one to last more than two years was current Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer (2006-2011).
Under Engstrand, the Jets finished 29th in scoring and 29th in total yards, with star wide receiver Garrett Wilson missing 10 games due to a knee injury. They benched Justin Fields at midseason and wound up starting Tyrod Taylor and undrafted rookie Brady Cook. With Cook at the helm, the Jets scored only 44 points in the last four games.
This is hardly a new trend. The Jets, undermined by quarterback instability, have finished no better than 23rd in scoring for 10 straight seasons.
Glenn took a chance on Engstrand, 43, who had no playcalling experience at the NFL level. They worked together with the Detroit Lions, and Glenn brought him along last year when he was hired.
Meanwhile, the search for a defensive coordinator continues. On Tuesday, they completed a virtual interview with Brian Duker, a former Lions assistant and most recently the Miami Dolphins' passing-game coordinator.
Glenn has met with at least nine candidates, including longtime NFL coordinator Wink Martindale, who had an in-person interview on Saturday -- the only known candidate to have a second interview. He was thought to be the favorite, but the field has expanded.
Chris Harris, who became the interim when Wilks was fired, remains a possibility. In the end, Glenn could opt to handle the defensive playcalling himself.
