Former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is making strategic moves to bolster the New York Jets’ offense by hiring Seth Ryan, previously the Lions’ assistant tight ends coach, as the team’s new passing game coordinator. Ryan brings with him a rich coaching lineage, following in the footsteps of his father Rex and grandfather Buddy, both of whom have coached for the Jets.
Seth Ryan has spent five seasons with the Lions, initially serving as the assistant receivers coach before transitioning to tight ends to support new position coach Tyler Roehl. After Roehl’s departure to assume the offensive coordinator position at Iowa State University, the Lions promoted Steve Oliver from within to fill the void.
During his tenure with the Lions, Ryan played a key role in developing players such as Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and rookie Sam LaPorta. His contributions helped shape one of the NFL’s most productive receiving groups, which has consistently produced two 1,000-yard receivers in each of the last two seasons.
In prior interviews, Ryan expressed some frustration over missed promotion opportunities within the Lions’ organization but remained optimistic about his transition to the tight ends unit, believing it would serve him well in future career aspirations. “There’s got to be a lot of trust with your head coach,” Ryan remarked about his experience working alongside Dan Campbell. He praised Campbell’s ability to foster growth among his coaching staff and how this trust has positively impacted his career path.
The Jets, coming off a challenging offensive season in 2025 marked by quarterback struggles and inconsistent play, saw a significant coaching change after parting ways with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. The organization has since brought in former Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich to lead their offensive strategies, with Ryan expected to work closely with him to revamp the passing game.
Ryan’s background includes collegiate play at Clemson and two seasons as a quality control coach with the Los Angeles Chargers prior to joining the Lions. His family’s deep-rooted connection to the Jets and his experience in Detroit could position him well to make a significant impact in New York as they strive to enhance their offensive performance moving forward.