Aaron Glenn's new OC make Aaron Rodgers' NY Jets return less likely

The NY Jets face an Aaron Rodgers dilemma this offseason. The team is set to usher in a new era with a new quarterback, a new general manager, and a new-look roster, but Rodgers' presence could prevent a complete overhaul.

The four-time MVP is under contract in 2025, but the Jets have remained noncommittal about his status moving forward. Rodgers himself has not even committed to playing football in 2025, let alone as a member of the Jets.

The Rodgers conversation is a complex one that involves everything from finances to injury history to overall organizational vision. One recent development, however, could make it less likely that Rodgers returns.

The Jets officially hired Detroit Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand to be their new offensive coordinator last week. Engstrand is a first-time play-caller at the NFL level who figures to implement a similar offensive scheme to the one he was familiar with in Detroit.

That might directly conflict with keeping Rodgers in 2025.

Tanner Engstrand hire makes it less likely Aaron Rodgers is on the NY Jets in 2025

Engstrand has worked alongside and under new Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson over the last few years. The Lions' offense has been one of the most successful in the NFL due in part to their stellar offensive line and talented skill position players, but Johnson also received plenty of credit for his work developing the overall scheme.

Unfortunately for those who want Rodgers back with the Jets in 2025, it's a scheme that contradicts what he typically prefers in an NFL offense. If Engstrand is going to run a similar system to the one he was a part of in Detroit, it's hard to believe Rodgers will be the Jets' quarterback.

The Lions led the NFL in play-action rate in 2024, running it on a league-high 37% of play — well above the Jets' 23% rate. That gap can be largely attributed to the presence of Rodgers.

Rodgers famously avoids play action, much like his reluctance to use pre-snap motion — both of which are key staples of the Lions' offense and contributed to their offensive success.

Detroit also ran an NFL-high 39% of their plays from under center in 2024 compared to just 15% for the Jets. Rodgers preferred to run plays out of shotgun "because it put less stress on his surgically repaired Achilles and other leg injuries that came up throughout the season," per ESPN's Rich Cimini.

There's also the added factor of Rodgers working with a first-time play-caller, something he hasn't done since the Packers hired Matt LaFleur in 2019. Rodgers notably had issues with LaFleur's offense that year and essentially forced his coach to adjust his approach.

Does Rodgers want to encounter a similar situation again in 2025? Do the Jets want Rodgers influencing and completely changing the offensive scheme of their new first-time offensive coordinator?

The answer to both questions is likely no.

This doesn't mean Rodgers definitively won't be back in 2025, but it does complicate matters. If both sides want to run it back one more year, they’ll need to navigate a maze of challenges first — an already complex situation that keeps growing more tangled.

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