The New York Giants have changes flurrying on Wednesday under interim head coach Mike Kafka. Kafka, who previously served as Big Blue's offensive coordinator, announced that Jameis Winston will draw the start against the Packers in Week 11 if Jaxson Dart doesn't clear concussion protocol.
However, the changes didn't end there. Kafka was quick to admit he would continue calling plays for the G-Men, but he had just found his new offensive coordinator. The 38-year-old told the media that tight ends coach Tim Kelly would take over at OC in hopes of continuing the progression of this offense.
Dart is no sure thing to play after he left and didn't return against the Chicago Bears, but the coaching change is better news. Kelly served as the Tennessee Titans' OC in 2023 before landing with the Giants in 2024, but unlike in Tennessee, he won't be calling plays anytime in the near future.
Giants name TE's coach Tim Kelly their new offensive coordinator
As for Kafka, he has an obvious audition on his hands he hopes not to squander. If he does a good job replacing Brian Daboll across the next few weeks. Joe Schoen and John Mara could consider removing his interim tag, promoting him from within like the team did with Ben McAdoo back in 2016.
However, McAdoo's example suggests that history isn't on his side, as he lasted just two seasons in New York, where he went just 13-15. Luckily, Kafka has been calling plays for Dart all season long, so the major learning curve is thriving where Daboll went wrong — in both clock management and with the media.
Kelly has done an admirable job with New York's tight end room this season, as second-year tight end Theo Johnson is in the midst of a breakout season, while Daniel Bellinger has also been productive when he gets on the field despite being a popular trade candidate for quite some time now.
In Kelly's lone season as an offensive coordinator, the Titans finished near the bottom of the NFL in virtually every offensive category, but that was while Ryan Tannehill and Will Levis started, and the only viable offensive weapons the Titans had were Derrick Henry and an aging DeAndre Hopkins.
It's a risk on Kafka's part, but interim coaches do tend to have good track records as of late. He's an innovative offensive mind who spent plenty of time with Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, so a successful stint here could be pivotal in dictating how his coaching future plays out.