Kafka in charge of the Giants: Will the interim succeed in NY?

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Following the first major move by Mike Kafka’s interim management as coach of the New York Giants, he confidently answered questions about Jameis Winston’s starting position over Russell Wilson. Kafka handled the more than 50 members of the media with candor and composure. The atmosphere was more open and less reserved compared to the previous three and a half years he was with the Giants under former coach Brian Daboll. Now, Mike Kafka is the interim coach, no longer the offensive coordinator and assistant coach.

“My only focus is on the players,” Kafka said this week, downplaying what’s at stake personally. “We need to make sure as a group, as a staff, that we come together, come up with a great plan, and really focus on what’s most important.”

Mike KafkaIt’s a great opportunity for him at 38 years old, after having started his coaching career at Northwestern, where he played quarterback. Then, Kafka joined the Kansas City Chiefs, who entrusted him with the development of rookie Patrick Mahomes, and finally joined the Giants as a coordinator and play caller. Now, he holds the top position and, as he himself admits, relies on his mentors. “I told him to trust in himself, just as he did when he was a player, and that, for whatever he needs, he has me forever,” said former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald in a phone conversation this week. That means trying to make his mark on a team that has lost four straight games. The Giants (2-8) and the rest of the NFL will watch how Kafka can help the team in the last two months of the season. He will have to do it on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers (1 p.m. ET, Fox) without starting rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who is out with a concussion. Kafka has already made some minor adjustments to the program and the week’s process, although defensive coordinator Shane Bowen warned that “drastic changes” in schemes or personnel should not be expected. There will be a natural transition and some modifications as Kafka adapts to handling more than just the offense. The defense needs to learn more about the new interim coach. To reinforce that coalition, Kafka was intervening and throwing friendly jokes at the unit all week, something he hadn’t done before.

“I’m still learning [his personality]. I’m still learning that. I had to ask one of the coaches: ‘Does he have one?'”, veteran defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence II said with a smile. “But I’m still learning. He seems cool, man. I’m enjoying it. It’s different because you never hear from him; now you hear all the time. So I’m adjusting”.

Dexter Lawrence IIDuring the week, the players noticed that Kafka has a calm presence, a different way than Daboll, who was known for being more passionate on the sidelines. The belief among some seems to be that Kafka’s approach could be beneficial, especially in late-game situations, when the Giants have struggled. They are only the second team in the Super Bowl era to lose two games in the same season with a lead of at least 10 points with less than four minutes remaining. Maybe this could help when things start to get worse. “He’s probably naturally a little bit more of a calm personality, so to speak,” wide receiver Darius Slayton said of Kafka. “But that can be helpful, especially in a high-pressure game like we’re in, week in and week out, that calmer presence can definitely be beneficial.”

“It’s serene,” Winston said. “It’s very serene on the band. And don’t get me wrong, this is a very challenging situation because I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Brian Daboll. And I am very grateful for him and for the opportunity he gave me to come to New York and do what I love.”

Jameis Winston

Kafka has been waiting for this opportunity, not necessarily in New York and under these circumstances, but he has been interviewed for eight head coaching positions and has been a finalist in at least a couple. He has been on the verge of becoming an NFL head coach for the last three seasons. A high-level executive who participated in interviews with Kafka considered him prepared and organized. He saw confidence and conviction, as well as having great football intelligence. That team was impressed. It’s what Fitzgerald has seen since he recruited Kafka from St. Rita’s High School in Chicago. That’s why Fitzgerald wanted him on his staff as a graduate assistant after he finished his playing career. “I mean, he’s super smart,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s a super smart guy.” Kafka received a call this week from his former boss, Chiefs coach Andy Reid. He played under Reid, another mentor, in Philadelphia (2011-12) and was on his staff with the Chiefs (2017-21). “It was great to hear from him and, well, I’ll keep what we talked about private, but it was great to hear from him, great to have his support, and I know he’s busy too, and so for him to take time out of his day to give me a chance, it was great.” Kafka will have a lot of work ahead. The Giants’ next three opponents have a combined record of 20-8-1. After the next encounter against the Packers, their next two games are on the road against Detroit and New England, both teams in first place. Fitzgerald has no doubt that his protégé will succeed, even in this difficult situation.

“Trust what you’ve done. Trust your knowledge, trust your wisdom. I know he’s had a plan because he and I have talked about it in the past as he prepared for head coaching interviews,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s a bit of a challenge when you take over like that, so, how much change is good? How much is too much? But trust your gut, trust your instincts, trust your insight and make the right decisions for the team and don’t be afraid to be bold.”

Pat Fitzgerald

The Giants’ front office thinks so highly of Kafka that they blocked requests from other teams to interview him. It’s part of the reason (besides Daboll) why he was originally hired and ultimately retained and promoted despite some difficult moments in recent years, even when Daboll took over play-calling. Kafka is one of the highest-paid assistants in the NFL. That’s why he’s now the interim coach. A good end to the season could help convince general manager Joe Schoen and ownership that he’s the right man for the job. Fitzgerald has no doubts. “I couldn’t be prouder of Mike,” he said. “He has earned everything he’s gotten in his life and great things just happen to great people. And when I think about Mike Kafka beyond the coach, he’s an absolutely fantastic person… His pedigree and his preparation for this speak for themselves. That’s where he has to trust himself again and be Mike, and that will be good enough.”