ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports the Jets offense under OC Tanner Engstrand will have a “Lions flavor to it.”

03 June 2025

Tanner, entering his first year as an NFL play caller, worked under Ben Johnson in Detroit before landing the Jets job this offseason. Tanner and pass game coordinator Scott Turner said the Jets would use elements of the hyper-efficient Lions offense in 2025 and beyond with Justin Fields under center. “It’s going to be a physical system,” Turner said. “We’re going to run the football, we’re going to be aggressive up front and try to chase explosive plays [in the passing game]. ... That’s what we’re going to be hunting.” Tanner’s main challenge will come in the form of transitioning from Jared Goff, a pocket passer, to Fields, a dynamic mobile quarterback. “In theory,” Cimini said, “run-pass options should become a staple in the offense.” The Lions under Johnson (and Tanner) led the NFL in middle-of-the-field pass attempts and profiled as a run-first offense. Detroit was 6 percent below their expected pass rate since the start of the 2023 season. If all goes well, the Jets will be among the two or three run-heaviest offenses in the NFL this season.