Jets head coach Aaron Glenn returned to the Motor City to find his offensive coordinator, tabbing Lions' passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand to be his offensive play-caller.
Engstrand, 42, helped the Lions' prolific passing attack the past two seasons under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and head coach Dan Campbell. Detroit claimed the NFC's top seed with a 15-2 record as the Lions finished No. 2 in pass yards (4,718), passer rating (112.6) and yards/attempt (8.6). The Lions converted 399 of their completions into 242 first downs and their first-down percentage of 43.9% led the NFL. Their 62 pass plays of 20-plus yards ranked third and the Lions set franchise records in net yards (6,962), points (564) and TDs (70). Detroit tied the NFL record for most 20-plus point games in a season (16) and it tied a league mark for the most 40-plus point games in a season (6).
"We talk about being a physical, detailed football team," Engstrand said in June. "The feet are cemented in that now. It's not something that was foreign to me when I got here, but if there was ever something to get cemented in — that's it, that's really what I believe in. Something I would also say is explosiveness -- the explosive plays and the importance of it. We're chasing that every week and I think that's something that is at the forefront of our minds as we as we're trying to game plan and win these games is how we can do that as well."
Initially joining the Lions as an offensive assistant in 2020, Engstrand also served as Detroit's offensive quality control coach (2021) and tight ends coach and passing game coordinator (2022). Promoted in 2023, Engstrand help the Lions set franchise marks in total net yards (6,712) and TDs (58) as Detroit finished No. 2 in net pass yards (4,401), T4 in pas TDs (30) and No. 5 in yards/attempt (7.60)
"We're just going to continue to push the limit with this stuff, continue to be creative, continue to try to score points, have a little bit of fun but be sound and be detailed in what we're doing," Engstrand said in October. "And that's what we really harp on all week is it's always the little details that make everything work. And if we're off just a little bit, then you don't get exactly what you want."
Engstrand, who played QB at Grossmont College (2000-02) and San Diego State (2003-04), started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at San Diego under Jim Harbaugh in 2005. Over 10 seasons with the Tritons, Engstrand was a GA (2005-06), RB coach (2007-08), QB coach (2009-10), OC & QB coach (2011-12) and assistant head coach, OC and QB coach (2013-17). He rejoined Harbaugh at Michigan as an offensive analyst in 2018 before being named the offensive coordinator/RB coach of the XFL's DC Defenders in 2020.
