The New York Jets hired 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, who was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers, agreed to join the Jets as their defensive coordinator on Wednesday.
These hires complete the coaching staff for new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn. Glenn, who was introduced as the new coach on Monday, worked with Engstrand for the past four years in Detroit. Engstrand, 42, started with the Lions in 2020 as an offensive assistant and stayed on the staff after Dan Campbell became the head coach in 2021.
Engstrand was promoted to tight ends coach and passing game coordinator, where he helped lead one of the top passing offenses in the NFL, as the Lions scored 564 points this season, the most in the league.
Engstrand will now work with the Jets, where he could oversee an offense led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, if Rodgers returns for another season. Rodgers has one year left on his contract but has said he will take time to decide if he wants to keep playing. The Jets and Glenn will have to decide whether they want Rodgers to continue as their starting quarterback.
Wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who has had three straight 1,000-yard seasons to start his career, will be a key player for Engstrand, regardless of who plays quarterback. 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 is uncertain. He is set to make $35.64 million in each of the next two years, so the Jets might ask him to restructure his contract or release him in the coming months. Adams has also mentioned that Rodgers’ future could affect his own decision.
Engstrand, who played quarterback at Grossmont College and San Diego State, started his coaching career at the University of San Diego in 2005 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 replaces Brant Boyer as the Jets’ special teams coordinator, 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, working with special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica and assistant head coach Mike Westhoff, who is known for his expertise in special teams.
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