Chiefs QB coach Mike Kafka mentioned as head coaching candidate

Chiefs quarterbacks coach Mike Kafka is also being mentioned as a head coaching candidate.

The Kansas City Chiefs might be losing more of Andy Reid‘s assistants than anyone originally predicted this offseason if a new rumor from ESPN reporter Adam Schefter proves true. That’s because Schefter is hearing that Mike Kafka, the Chiefs quarterbacks coach, is also a hot name being mentioned in conjunction with head coach openings around the NFL.

Kafka, who is the team’s passing game coordinator, has risen internally to his current post and his work with Patrick Mahomes has earned praise from Andy Reid and the star quarterback himself. He’s viewed as the likely heir apparent to replace Eric Bieniemy as the team’s offensive coordinator if and when he’s hired away this offseason to coach his own team.

Bieniemy has been a hot name in recent years for several head coach openings, but this year appears to be his given the strength of rumors around the league. Bieniemy has now served as a coordinator for three seasons with a Super Bowl contender alongside a Hall of Fame head coach in Reid. Despite earning interviews but no job offers from several teams over the last two years, Bieniemy is viewed as a potential favorite in places like Houston.

As for Kafka, Reid drafted him out of Northwestern in the 2010 NFL Draft when he was with the Philadelphia Eagles. From there, Kafka served as a backup quarterback who bounced around the league with a half-dozen NFL teams through 2015. From there, he jumped into coaching at his alma mater as a grad assistant before Reid offered him a spot in 2017 as a quality control coach.

Kafka’s quick ascension up the ranks in the Chiefs coaching staff could earn him a look or two but it would be a real surprise if Kafka actually left. His lack of experience at the coordinator level, along with zero head coaching experience, is likely going to be a longshot at this stage. However, nothing should be ruled out and, if anything, it shows that teams are going to come calling sooner than later for Kafka’s services in the end.