Detroit Lions OC Candidate: Exploring pros and cons of Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka
This is our fifth piece in what will be an ongoing series, evaluating the pros and cons of the offensive coordinator candidates connected to the Detroit Lions’ vacancy.
Who: Mike Kafka
Age: 38
Background and coaching history: A three-star dual-threat QB recruit out of St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago — the same program that produced Lions draft picks Kenny Golladay and Pat O’Connor — Kafka opted to stay home and play for Northwestern University.
After playing sparingly during his first three seasons, he led the Big Ten in completions, completion percentage and passing yards as a senior. That included a 532-yard, four-touchdown effort in the Outback Bowl against Auburn.
The Philadelphia Eagles would select Kafka in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft. There, he served as a backup to starter Michael Vick for two years. Coach Andy Reid praised Kafka’s intelligence, leadership and grittiness after selecting the Northwestern standout.
Kafka got into four games during the 2011 season, completing 11-of-16 throws for 107 yards, zero touchdowns and two interceptions. Those would be the only regular-season appearances of his career.
After suffering a hand injury during the following year’s preseason, the Eagles waived Kafka. Over the next three years, he would have short stints with New England, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Tennessee and Cincinnati.
After finishing the 2015 season on the Bengals’ practice squad, Kafka transitioned to coaching the following March, joining his alma mater’s staff as a graduate assistant. A year later, he reconnected with Reid in Kansas City as a quality control coach.