Jets’ Engstrand Off to Strong Start Calling Plays

New offensive coordinator puts Fields in position to succeed in Week 1 loss

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Jets did not win their opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they may have found something even more important: an offensive identity under first-year coordinator Tanner Engstrand.

The Jets scored 32 points and piled up 394 yards in Sunday’s loss at MetLife Stadium. More telling than the box score, though, was how Engstrand’s play-calling gave quarterback Justin Fields clarity, rhythm and freedom to showcase his strengths.

Fields completed 16 of 22 passes for 218 yards and a touchdown. He added 48 rushing yards and two scores on the ground, the kind of dual-threat production the Jets hoped for when they traded for him in March.

Engstrand helped him get there with a plan that blended tempo, balance and smart sequencing. He leaned on Breece Hall and the ground game—19 carries for 107 yards—to keep Pittsburgh honest, then used play-action and movement concepts to simplify Fields’ reads. On early downs, quick throws neutralized pressure and built confidence. In critical spots, Fields was able to improvise without forcing the issue.

The approach was deliberate and disciplined. The Jets held the ball for nearly 35 minutes, outgained Pittsburgh by more than 120 yards and averaged over six yards per play. For a team that struggled with consistency on offense last season, the difference was clear.

Engstrand’s style also showed in the red zone. Rather than forcing contested throws, he put the ball in Fields’ hands with designed runs and options. The payoff came with two short touchdown runs, including a fourth-down keeper that briefly gave the Jets the lead in the closing minutes.

The final result went against New York when the Steelers answered with a late field goal. But inside the Jets’ locker room, there was little doubt the offense looked sharper and more cohesive than it has in months.

Engstrand arrived in New York with a reputation for adaptability from his time in Detroit, where he worked closely with quarterbacks and oversaw passing concepts. His debut suggested he could bring that same flexibility to the Jets. The offense looked less about forcing a system and more about maximizing Fields’ skill set.

That adaptability may define the Jets’ season. Fields, still only 26, has shown flashes in the past but has struggled to find stability. If Engstrand can continue building a framework that plays to Fields’ accuracy in short windows and his ability to extend plays, the Jets could have more than just a stopgap solution—they could have a foundation.

The loss will sting, but Week 1 also offered a glimpse of something bigger. For the Jets, Engstrand’s debut suggested a path forward: an offense built on balance, precision and a quarterback finally put in position to succeed.