NFL Rumors on Aaron Glenn's Jets Coaching Staff Firings Amid OC Engstrand's Exit

Some former members of Aaron Glenn's coaching staff were reportedly surprised to be dismissed after the 2025 season, The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt reported Tuesday.

Rosenblatt's report comes shortly after ESPN's Rich Cimini reported Tuesday that Glenn had parted ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand after one season.

According to Rosenblatt, "there were some Jets coaches — including Tanner Engstrand — who were under the impression at the end of the season that Aaron Glenn would be bringing them back in their same roles in 2026."

Rosenblatt wrote that many of these coaches "felt they were safe as of last week based on conversations they'd had with Glenn."

"At some point in the last week or so, multiple sources said they felt Glenn changed course on his original plan for the offseason," Rosenblatt wrote.

Glenn had previously fired seven assistant coaches, per Cimini, after having already dismissed former defensive coordinator Steve Wilks during the season.

SNY's Connor Hughes similarly reported Tuesday that coaches did not believe "sweeping changes or firings" were coming after the Jets' 3-14 finish to the season.

"One source close to the situation said coaches were caught off guard by the firings, specifically when they happened," Hughes wrote.

Hughes had previously wrote the Jets were "progressing" in talks with Frank Reich as a member of the offensive staff, and that if Reich was hired Engstrand's role on the staff "will change."

Cimini wrote when reporting Engstrand's firing that the former Jets offensive coordinator "didn't expect it to unfold like this," and that when the season ended "he told friends he was excited about the offense's prospects in 2026."

According to Cimini, a source said Glenn "had multiple discussions with Engstrand about the role" before deciding to seek another candidate.

Rosenblatt wrote Tuesday that at least some of those talks involved Engstrand "giving up play-calling so Glenn could bring in a veteran voice to lead the offensive operation."

Reich, who has most recently worked with Stanford but previously has NFL experience as both offensive coordinator and head coach, might now be a candidate to take over for Engstrand entirely.

The offensive staff isn't the only area in which Glenn has recently changed his thinking, according to Rosenblatt. Glenn has recently become "more open" to the idea of calling his own defensive plays, Rosenblatt wrote.

The Jets have already interviewed at least nine candidates for the open DC spot. The franchise can now also begin scheduling offensive coordinator interviews, which will have to include at least two minority candidates to satisfy the NFL's Rooney Rule.

Glenn will be under pressure to find a staff who can help him improve from his three-win debut as he heads into the second campaign of his five-year contract in New York.