The Detroit Lions’ number one offseason priority is hiring their next OC. Mike McDaniels, the best candidate, is meeting with the Lions today. However, with McDaniels fielding multiple head coaching opportunities , he’s a long shot, and the Lions are continuing to pursue other candidates. One of the more intriguing candidates Detroit is interviewing this week is New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka .
Lions OC Candidate Mike Kafka Emerges As Frontrunner
After Brian Daboll’s dismissal, the former assistant head coach & offensive coordinator assumed HC duties for the remainder of the season. In Week 12, Kafka and backup quarterback Jameis Winston pulled off a near-upset over Detroit. Winston passed for over 300 yards, putting the game into overtime before the Lions came from behind to win 34-27.
Taking over as the interim HC, Kafka kept the Giants’ offense humming under rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart . The team stayed competitive with one-score losses, except for the 33-15 loss to the New England Patriots. Closing out their season with consecutive wins, New York defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-10 and the Las Vegas Raiders 34-17.
Mike Kafka Made An Immediate Impact At NYG
Unlike other candidates Detroit is interviewing, Kafka is an experienced play caller. Hired by Daboll in 2022, he assumed play-calling duties and led the team to its first postseason win in eleven years.
Consequently, in January of 2023, Kafka surfaced as a head coaching candidate for several teams, including the Arizona Cardinals and the Houston Texans . Over the next two seasons, his name was frequently mentioned as a head coaching candidate. Kafka interviewed with the Tennessee Titans, the Chicago Bears, and the New Orleans Saints. But once again, he showed his loyalty to Daboll by staying with New York. Will his allegiance to the Giants be rewarded with a full-time head coaching contract?
Although Kafka interviewed for the position last week, with big-name candidates like Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh available, it’s hard to imagine New York keeping the status quo.
Kafka’s NFL Career
Selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 4th round of the 2010 NFL draft, Kafka was considered one of the sleeper quarterback prospects. At the time of his draft, Coach Andy Reid praised him as a smart, competitive inner-city kid with strong leadership skills and grit. After playing as an NFL quarterback for the next five years, Kafka began his coaching career at Northwestern University.
A year later, he was hired by the Kansas City Chiefs as their offensive quality control coach. Promoted to quarterbacks coach the following year, Kafka was instrumental in the development of Patrick Mahomes . Under Kafka’s tutelage, Mahomes earned his first Pro Bowl nod, his first MVP title, and his first Super Bowl win in 2021 against the San Francisco 49ers . Taking on the added title of passing game coordinator in 2020, Kafka guided Mahomes to three more Pro Bowl seasons and a second Super Bowl win before accepting the position of the Giants’ offensive coordinator.
Speaking of Kafka’s influence, Mahomes said, “Coach Kafka is a special person and a special coach…I spent a lot of hours with coach Kafka, where he was teaching me the playbook and teaching me how to become a quarterback in the NFL.”
Why Kafka Is A Great Option As The Lions’ OC
In addition to Kafka’s history with New York, he offers several other promising attributes as Detroit’s next offensive coordinator. Given his experience as a player and coach, Kafka brings a high-level perspective to the position. His leadership and communication skills will generate respect in the locker room and translate his vision and expertise onto the field. Kafka’s strong relationships with Mahomes, Dart, and Winston are proof that he brings out the best in his quarterbacks.
If the Lions are serious about upgrading the offensive coordinator position for 2026, they should look no further than Kafka.