The NFL coaching carousel is officially off the rails, and the New York Giants are unexpectedly in the mix. According to Ian Rapoport, the Chicago Bears have requested an interview with Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka for their head coaching vacancy. Yes, the same Mike Kafka whose play-calling duties were stripped by Brian Daboll because things weren’t working.
The #Bears have requested to speak with #Giants OC Mike Kafka, source said, for their vacant HC job.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 6, 2025
This move is almost as puzzling as Chicago’s last few coaching hires. Kafka’s recent track record doesn’t exactly scream “franchise savior.” The Giants’ offense has been stuck in the basement of the league rankings for two straight years, and Kafka’s role in that decline is hard to ignore.
Once a rising star for his work with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, Kafka was touted as an offensive whiz when Brian Daboll hired him in 2022. But that shine quickly faded. By mid-2023, Daboll took back the reins on play-calling, and the results this season only worsened, with the Giants finishing bottom-five in points, yards, and passing.
The Bears apparently will search till the world's end to find their guy
Let’s be honest: Mike Kafka is not ready to be a head coach. His tenure with the Giants has been a series of setbacks. Sure, he has a history with Bears GM Ryan Poles from their Kansas City days, but nostalgia isn’t a winning strategy for rebuilding a franchise.
If Chicago is looking for a young offensive mind, why not target someone like Ben Johnson, who’s led Detroit’s top-tier offense? Instead, they’re focusing on a candidate from one of the league’s worst offenses, which feels more like a reach than a bold vision for the future.
Giants fans shouldn’t lose any sleep over this news. Losing Kafka wouldn’t be a blow—it might even be a blessing. His contributions to the team’s offensive struggles have been well-documented, and a fresh approach could be exactly what New York needs.
For the Bears, though, this decision is baffling. If Kafka is their best idea for turning things around, they might be headed for yet another disappointing hire. Meanwhile, the Giants can sit back and watch as Chicago takes a gamble on someone who hasn’t proven they’re ready for the big chair.