Patriots reportedly plan to interview Lions’ assistant coach for offensive coordinator vacancy
Tanner Engstrand has been Detroit’s passing game coordinator since 2020.
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The Patriots will reportedly interview a seventh candidate for the team’s offensive coordinator role as a seemingly thorough search continues.
Head coach Jerod Mayo and Co. plan to sit down with Lions’ passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
He joins a lengthy list of Patriots coordinator interviewees across all three phases. With Bill O’Brien off to Ohio State, the lack of an existing defensive coordinator, and special teams play-caller Cam Achord apparently on his way out, the Patriots are keeping busy with interviews.
Engstrand, 41, was named the Lions’ tight ends coach and passing game coordinator in 2020 before solely focusing on the passing game in 2023.
The assistant coach is experiencing plenty of success alongside Detroit’s offensive coordinator Ben Johnson this season. The Lions’ air game is one of the best in the NFL this season under Engstrand’s tutelage – the NFC North champions collected the league’s fourth-most passing yards with 4,606 in the regular season. They trailed only the Vikings (4,700), Dolphins (4,698), and Cowboys (4,660) in that category.
Quarterback Jared Goff logged the second-most passing yards among all NFL signal-callers this season (4,575), with only the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa (4,624) ahead of him.
Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, Goff’s top weapon, garnered the NFL’s third-most receiving yards (1,515) in 2023, and was tied for second in receptions (119). Tight end Sam LaPorta collected 889 yards through the air. St. Brown and LaPorta caught 10 touchdowns apiece under Engstrand this year.
Given the Lions’ passing game success this season and its unprecedented playoff run, it’s no surprise that the Patriots would want to talk to Engstrand.
New England’s plan to interview Engstrand is his first reported meeting with any team for a coordinator position.
The Patriots are Rooney Rule compliant at offensive coordinator, meaning they have conducted at least one interview with an external minority candidate for the role and can hire someone at any time.
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