How Mike Kafka landed in Detroit and the opportunity to learn from path taken by coach Dan Campbell

Allen Park — When Mike Kafka interviewed for the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator vacancy this offseason, he and coach Dan Campbell re-watched last year’s thrilling overtime game between the Lions and New York Giants.

That contest marked Kafka’s second as New York’s interim head coach, following a midseason dismissal of Brian Daboll. The team was 2-9, had dropped five straight, and was without several key players, headlined by the absence of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.

Had the Giants, a double-digit underdog, been steamrolled by the Lions at Ford Field, no one would have batted an eye. However, Kafka pulled out all the stops, going for it on fourth downs and dialing up two successful trick plays.

Had it not been for a Herculean effort from running back Jahmyr Gibbs, delivering a career-high 264 yards from scrimmage and a game-winning 69-yard touchdown romp in the extra frame, the Lions likely would have suffered an embarrassing loss in front of their home crowd.

At the time, it was easy to joke that the Giants’ strategy and performance that afternoon were an audition tape, not for the league, but specifically Campbell.