The NY Giants 2022 campaign was their most memorable one in recent history. However, things came to a close in the loss to the Eagles, and now it’s time to think towards the future. Will offensive coordinator Mike Kafka be part of that future?
Kafka was an unsung hero this season. With him leading the charge, the Giants offense played some of their best football in recent history. But, with the success that he found, it has led to interest in moving on up. Kafka had head coaching interviews with the Colts, Panthers and Texans on Sunday. Should Kafka move on, Brian Daboll will look far and wide for the right replacement. Here’s five guys for Coach Dabes to consider:
5. 49ers offensive passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik
San Francisco 49ers passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik may be the next big thing to take over the NFL. He is also set to be the latest member of the long-established Kyle Shanahan coaching tree.
With Slowik leading the 49ers passing game this season, the unit has looked elite. And now on their third quarterback of the season, they show no signs of slowing down. Slowik has found success with Trey Lance, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Brock Purdy taking snaps as QB1. With the 49ers winning their last 11 games, including seven with a rookie quarterback, the offense has stayed electric through the air.
Shanahan and the 49ers don’t have an offensive coordinator. Instead, they have two game coordinators, and Slowik handles the duties through the air. With the schemes that he has established, the 49ers have produced five pass-catchers with more than 400 yards this season. This includes running back Christian McCaffrey, who has been a force both on the ground and through the air.
The 35-year-old Slowik has spent that last decade earning knowledge on different NFL teams. Based on what he has shown so far, he seems well equipped to take over as a full-time offensive coordinator. With the talent that the Giants have on their team, specifically in their QB/RB duo, Slowik could be a great option to lead this unit.
4. Former Colts head coach Frank Reich
Former Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich may be one of the best names on the market. And there is also a very real possibility that he earns himself another head coaching job, but if that isn’t the case, he should be a top offensive coordinator target.
Following a 13-year NFL career, Reich eventually made the jump to coaching. The former quarterback has now put together one of the better resumes in the league. Since joining the Colts staff in 2006, Reich has taken several different positions in the NFL. Between stops with the Colts, Cardinals, Chargers, and Eagles, he has been a WR coach, QB coach, offensive coordinator, and head coach. Even with different stops, Reich has found success in each place.
Reich has led several of the NFL’s most efficient offenses, specifically near the end of his tenure with the Colts. While the Colts moved on from Reich during the 2022 campaign as they had a lackluster campaign, he still has all the makings of a solid play-caller. Reich has proven himself at the NFL level. If Daboll and the Giants want to go after an established figure to lead the offense, Reich could be just that.
3. Bills QB coach Joe Brady
Current Buffalo Bills quarterback coach Joe Brady has already been an offensive coordinator in the NFL. He spent two seasons as the Carolina Panthers OC before being fired prior to the end of the 2021 campaign.
While Brady did not last in Carolina, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have a great football mind. During his time at LSU, he played a crucial role in their record-breaking offense. With him serving as their passing game coordinator in 2019, the team scored at least 40 points in 12 of their 15 games.
Following his two seasons in Carolina, Brady joined the Bills as their QB coach. With him in the room, Josh Allen has once again put together an MVP-caliber season. At just 33 years old, Brady still has a long future ahead of him in the game.
With the amount of talent that the Giants have on the offense, Brady could keep this group playing at a high level. With both Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen having ties to the Bills, Brady could be the obvious choice. He’ll most definitely be a name to watch if Kafka decides to take a different job.
2. Giants QB coach Shea Tierney
The Giants could very well choose to look internally here. With current quarterback coach Shea Tierney, they could already have their guy. Tierney, who is currently in his first season with the Giants, was hand picked by Daboll to join this team.
The two first connected during Daboll’s time at Alabama where Tierny was serving as an offensive analyst. After just one season together, Daboll brought Tierney along when he headed to Buffalo. In their time together, Tierney has served as both an offensive assistant and a QB coach under Daboll.
And he has found success in every campaign. During his two seasons at Alabama, Tierney was a part of two explosive offenses. In 2016, Jalen Hurts threw for 2,780 passing yards, 23 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. On the ground, he added 954 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
The following season, as Tierney became the QB coach, Alabama sent out both Hurts and Tua Tagovialia. They combined for 2,717 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and just 11 interceptions. On the ground, they added 10 touchdowns.
While with Buffalo, Tierney also found success within the Bills QB room. Between the history that he has with Daboll, and his already established connections on the team, he could be a great option to step in as offensive coordinator.
1. Former Bucs OC Byron Leftwich
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich has a Super Bowl win to his name and he’s got high football IQ. However, following a down season with the Buccaneers, he now finds himself without a job. Following a 10-year NFL career, Leftwich opted to head down the coaching path. After spending the 2016 season as an intern for the Arizona Cardinals, he quickly stepped into a coaching role.
Leftwich spent the 2017 season as the team’s quarterback coach, and then eventually became offensive coordinator in 2018. Following his two seasons in Arizona, Leftwich was offered the Buccaneers offensive coordinator job. Upon joining the team, he got off to a hot start. Over his first three seasons with the team, the Buccaneers finished in the top three in points per game, and in the top seven in yards per game in each season.
With the help of Tom Brady alongside Leftwich, the Buccaneers passing offense put up elite numbers during this stretch as well. From 2019-2021, they finished in the top three in both passing touchdowns and yards.
This past season, as the Buccaneers struggled on the field, the Leftwich offense didn’t produce at their usual rate. They finished 25th in points per game, and 15th in yards per game. On the ground, they finished last in rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns. Through the air, they once again looked reliable, finishing second in yards and 12th in touchdowns.
One “down” year doesn’t tell the whole story for Leftwich. He has led several of the NFL’s top offenses and could do the same for the Giants. If Kafka chooses to walk away, he should be at the top of the Giants list. Leftwich won’t be unemployed for too long.
4 takeaways from the NY Giants deflating season-ending loss to Eagles
The season has officially come to a close for the NY Giants, as the Eagles had no problems taking them down in the Divisional Round.