The Andy Reid coaching tree continues to grow during his Kansas City Chiefs tenure. One of his recent notable coaches to depart Kansas City is current New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. The former NFL quarterback has spent two years in the Big Apple and is looking to take the next step forward in his career.
The Tennessee Titans announced Friday that they interviewed Kafka for their head coaching role. The interview was conducted virtually, keeping within NFL rules prohibiting in-person interviews until January 22.
Mike Kafka is generating some head coaching interest once again around the NFL.
Kafka has spent the last two seasons as offensive coordinator under Giants head coach Brian Daboll. New York's offensive attack under Kafka's leadership has been paltry, to say the least. Since 2022, the team has ranked 30th in yards per play, 27th in points scored, and has a -147 point differential in that span. But injuries and underperforming players have not been kind to Kafka in New York.
Kafk's appearance as a head-coaching candidate is quizzical, looking at his on-field performance. Perhaps his playing experience and connections in the league make him a candidate, but I would be disappointed if my favorite team hired Kafka as the head coach.
Kafka began his NFL coaching career with the Chiefs in 2017 as an offensive quality control coach. He rose to quarterbacks coach in 2018, the same season Patrick Mahomes earned his first MVP and Pro Bowl selection. Kafka earned another title as passing game coordinator ahead of the 2020 season. During Kafka's time in Kanas City, the team won one Super Bowl and appeared in four consecutive AFC Championship games.
The Nashville-based team is without a head coach after the team surprisingly fired Mike Vrabel last week. The former Kansas City Chiefs linebacker led the Titans to four consecutive winning seasons after being hired in 2018, but two consecutive sub-.500 seasons likely led to his dismissal. The 2021 NFL Coach of the Year will likely find a job quickly, as he is one of the league's most coveted coaching candidates alongside Bill Belichick.
Considering Kafka's successful coaching career with the Chiefs, his experience working closely with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and his contributions to the team's Super Bowl victory, it would be intriguing to see how he could potentially bring his expertise and winning mentality to the Titans.