Patriots OC position will be interviewed by Jerod Mayo, the Lions coach (report)
On Sunday, December 24, 2023, in Minneapolis, during the second half of an NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings, Tanner Engstrand, the coordinator of the team’s passing game, is positioned on the sidelines. (Image by Abbie Parr/AP)AP
One recurring thread in Jerod Mayo’s hunt for a new offensive coordinator has been the candidates’ ties to Sean McVay. As of Friday, six applicants for the position had either been employed by or served as a head coach for a head coach of the Rams.
But the seventh contender for Mayo has ties to another well-liked offensive-minded coach.
The NFL Network reports that Tanner Engstrand, the pass game coordinator for the Lions, will be interviewed by the Patriots for the role of offensive coordinator.
Engstrand, 41, a former collegiate quarterback, moved to Detroit in 2021. After serving as the team’s tight ends coach in 2022, offensive assistant in 2021, and passing game coordinator most recently, he has progressed through the ranks. Ben Johnson, the offensive coordinator and one of the front-runners for the head coaching position with the Washington Commanders, was his boss.
Engstrand is seen as one of the favorites to take over as the Lions offensive coordinator in the event that Johnson decides to depart Detroit. This Sunday in the NFC Championship game, Detroit takes on the San Francisco 49ers.
Additionally, Jim Harbaugh, the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, and Engstrand are connected. Under Harbaugh, he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at San Diego State. Later on, he was appointed associate head coach, quarterbacks coach, and offensive coordinator for San Diego. He started working with Harbaugh at Michigan in 2018 as an offensive analyst.
Engstrand joined the XFL in 2020 and worked as the DC Defenders’ offensive coordinator. He arrived in Detroit the next year.
For the position of offensive coordinator, Mayo has interviewed seven individuals.
In addition to Enstrand, there is former Seattle offensive coordinator Shane Waldron (hired by Chicago), Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson, former Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown, Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher (promoted in Cincinnati), tight ends coach Nick Caley of the Rams, and passing game coordinator Zac Robinson of the Rams.
Caley is the first applicant in that group to be given a second interview. He will see Mayo face-to-face on Sunday.
