Dan Campbell and the Lions are adding a significant name to their offensive staff.
Former Giants interim head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who interviewed for the Lions offensive coordinator job that went to Drew Petzing, is joining Detroit in a "high-ranking offensive role," according to NFL Network.
Kafka was with the Giants for the last four seasons, and before that spent five seasons as an offensive coach with the Chiefs under Andy Reid. He has been up for numerous head coaching jobs the last few years, interviewing with the Bears and Saints last year, the Seahawks and Titans in 2024 and the Panthers, Texans, Colts and Cardinals in 2023. A strong impression with the Lions could shine his resume for next year's hiring cycle.
Kafka, 38, feels like a natural complement to Petzing, who built some elite rushing attacks during his stint as offensive coordinator of the Cardinals. Kafka is a former NFL quarterback who coached Patrick Mahomes for four seasons in Kansas City and coordinated the Chiefs' passing attack from 2020-21 when they had the second most passing yards in the NFL.
The Giants' offense mostly struggled under Kafka, but that owed to limitations in personnel more than anything. He coordinated Daniel Jones' best season in New York and oversaw the rise this season of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart while also helping the Giants build a top-five rushing attack. New York ran for the fourth most first downs in the NFL. The Lions ran for the fourth most last season, then fell to 23rd this season.
The Lions have always had an aggressive offense under Campbell. The Giants were similarly bold with Kafka as coordinator, albeit with former head coach Brian Daboll making most of those calls. Over the last three seasons, the Lions ranked second in the NFL in fourth-down conversions, while the Giants ranked third. Only the Panthers converted more attempts.
Campbell got an up-close look at Kafka's offense this season when the Giants came to Detroit in Week 12 with Jameis Winston as quarterback and piled up 517 yards of offense and took the Lions to overtime, with Winston accounting for two touchdowns on trick plays. Campbell credited Kafka, who had taken over for Daboll midway through the season, for "throwing the kitchen sink at us."
"They got us ... Those guys came in to win this game. And we knew they would, they came in fighting," Campbell said. "Credit those guys, credit Kafka."