Aaron Glenn moved quickly in finding a defensive coordinator for his first Jets staff. On the offensive side of the ball, further clarity has emerged regarding the two top candidates. 
SNY’s Connor Hughes reports Nick Caley was New York’s top choice for the OC gig. The in-demand Rams tight ends coach was not interested in joining the Jets, he adds. Caley – who also took on the role of pass-game coordinator this season, his second in Los Angeles – was among the names to watch regarding offensive coordinator options once it became clear Glenn was on track to land the Jets’ head coaching position.
A subsequent report confirmed the 42-year-old was New York’s No. 1 candidate for the position. In spite of that, Caley has elected to turn his attention elsewhere. The Jets face uncertainty over Aaron Rodgers‘ future and therefore their outlook at the quarterback position, making their opening one which can be seen as less attractive than others around the league. Caley has interviewed with the Texans and Buccaneers for their OC positions, and he will likely remain in the running on at least one of those fronts as the coordinator landscape takes shape in the coming days.
With their top option off the market, Hughes adds that Tanner Engstrand remains the Jets’ likely hire for offensive coordinator. Earlier this week, it was reported a confidence exists around the league for the Lions’ pass-game coordinator to follow Glenn to New York, so today’s update comes as no surprise. Engstrand, 42, arrived in Detroit in 2020, and spent the past four years working alongside Glenn under head coach Dan Campbell. An internal promotion was considered by the Lions after Ben Johnson‘s departure, leaving Engstrand as a candidate to remain in the Motor City for 2025.
Instead, the Lions went with John Morton as their new OC, leaving Engstrand’s future in the air. The latter could of course remain in his current position for 2025, but joining the Jets would allow him to handle coordinator duties in the NFL for the first time in his career. No other team has shown interest in Engstrand to date, but it would come as no surprise if an in-person Jets interview were to be arranged in the near future with a hire following shortly therafter.
With the Jets’ search potentially entering its final stage, here is an updated look at where it stands:
- Mark Brunell, quarterbacks coach (Lions): Mentioned as candidate
- Nick Caley, tight ends coach (Rams): Turned down interest
- Tanner Engstrand, pass-game coordinator (Lions): Frontrunner
- Jerrod Johnson, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Team to pursue interview
- Klint Kubiak, offensive coordinator (Saints): Mentioned as candidate; hired by Seahawks
- Scott Turner, interim offensive coordinator (Raiders): Mentioned as candidate
Caley seems like the kind of guy who could bypass coordinator and go straight to head coach at some point. Makes sense to skip a job with a murky at best quarterback situation.