Mike Kafka, Brandt Tilis included on The Athletic’s NFL 40 under 40

Both Mike Kafka and Brandt Tilis of the Chiefs were honored by The Athletic.

The Athletic recently released their NFL 40 Under 40 rankings and two employees of the Kansas City Chiefs were featured on the list.

The Athletic (worth the money, by the way) is currently running a series of articles on the future of football and this particular list highlights the younger persons shaping the game on the sidelines and behind the scenes. Unlike other lists which features NFL players, this one is focused on executives, coaches, coordanators, agents, league employees and more.

The Chiefs were included in two spots in particular, including one name we’ve heard more recently given the team’s transactions and another that we’ll be hearing plenty more about next offseason.

First, Brandt Tilis was included on the list as the director of football administration for the Chiefs. Though he’s only 35-years-old, Tilis has already positioned himself as a fixture for a Super Bowl-winning front office as the team’s cap specialist. Per The Athletic:

"The Chiefs’ director of football administration works closely with coach Andy Reid and GM Brett Veach to execute their vision for the organization on the field, with considerable focus on matters relating to contracts and the salary cap."

In recent months, Tilis’ work has become more mainstream given the financial tightrope act the Chiefs have walked this spring and summer. Despite rumors that they might release Sammy Watkins, trade Chris Jones, and watch several other lesser free agents leave, the Chiefs brought the band back together for another run. They restructured Watkins and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif; extended Chris Jones; and, oh yeah, handed Patrick Mahomes the single largest contract in American sports history.

As for Kafka, the Chiefs quarterbacks coach looks like the next offensive coordinator in waiting for a team with the most dangerous offensive unit in the NFL. Anyone working regularly with the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill is going to find himself listed as a hot commodity and it’s only matter of time until he’s promoted to fill the void created by Eric Bieniemy finally getting a head coaching gig. (C’mon owners.) Per the Athletic:

"Kafka is expected to be Andy Reid’s next offensive coordinator when/if Eric Bieniemy becomes a head coach. Two of Reid’s offensive coordinators with the Chiefs, Doug Pederson and Matt Nagy, went on to become head coaches."

Kafka spent a couple years with head coach Andy Reid back in 2010-11 with the Philadelphia Eagles (when he was drafted in the fourth round). When Kafka then turned to coaching in 2016 at his alma mater of Northwestern, Reid was quick to extend him a chance to grow on his own staff as a quality control coach in 2017. From there, he’s worked his way up to passing game coordinator earlier this spring.