Thus far in the New England Patriots offensive coordinator search it seems anyone who’s been “McVay Adjacent” – coaches and coordinators that have been attached to or worked with LA Rams coach Sean McVay – have been looked upon favorably and interviewed. The team’s latest OC candidate makes you wonder if the search will now include people that are ”Johnson adjacent”?
According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots will be interviewing Tanner Engstrand, the pass game coordinator for the Detroit Lions. Engstrand, who’s been with the team since 2020, has worked alongside Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, a hot head coaching commodity who’s been linked to the open Washington Commanders job. The Lions, under Johnson, have finished fifth in overall scoring the past two seasons with QB Jared Goff leading the attack. Johnson previously held the post Engstrand has had this season.
A graduate of San Diego State, where he played quarterback, Engstrand has experience coaching at the prep and collegiate level. He worked all over the offense for years at his alma mater before leaving in 2018 to work at the University of Michigan as an offensive analyst under coach Jim Harbaugh, who just jumped to the LA Chargers. In 2020 Engstrand served as OC for the XFL’s Washington Defenders before going to the NFL with the Lions. In Detroit the 41 year old Engstrand has worked as an analyst, with the tight ends and finally the passing game. Some believe he’s the heir apparent at OC for coach Dan Campbell once Johnson departs for the Washington Commanders. The Cincinnati Bengals just did something similar, promoting pass game coordinator Dan Pitcher after OC Brian Callahan left to coach the Tennessee Titans.
Wild to think that the Patriots would one day look to the Lions for help fixing their sputtering offense. But such is life in the wild and wide open NFL these days. Head coach Jerod Mayo has kept an open mind and led a vast, comprehensive search looking for the next great mind to develop their talent and help the Pats not be a punchline on offense again. Perhaps Ben Johnson’s coaching tree is the next great garden from which Mayo and company can cultivate and grow some touchdowns from.