Giants OC Mike Kafka Comes Up Short in Bid for NFL Head Coaching Quest

Seattle won't be hiring Mike Kafka for its head coaching job. Plus how this could affect the Giants' defensive coordinator search.
Giants OC Mike Kafka Comes Up Short in Bid for NFL Head Coaching Quest
Giants OC Mike Kafka Comes Up Short in Bid for NFL Head Coaching Quest /

New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who was believed to have been a finalist for the Seattle Seahawks head coaching vacancy, will not be heading West for the role after all.

Per the NFL Network, the Seahawks have hired Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to succeed long-time head coach Pete Caroll in the role. 

With that decision having been made, that means Kafka, who was also considered for the Tennessee Titans head coaching vacancy that went to Brian Callahan, has been shut out of NFL head coaching opportunities for a second straight year unless he emerges as a candidate for the still-as-of-yet unfilled Washington Commanders job.

Kafka, who served as the West Team's head coach at the Shrine Bowl this week, is believed to have one year left on his contract with the Giants. While the expectation now is that he will return to fulfill that role, another team may offer him a "promotion" by making him an offensive coordinator/associate or assistant head coach.

With the Seahawks having landed Macdonald, all eyes will turn to the Ravens and how they proceed to replace Macdonald. The feeling is that Baltimore will promote from within, the two leading candidates being defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson or defensive line coach Anthony Weaver.

Wilson has been linked to the Giants, who are searching for a defensive coordinator to replace Wink Martindale, who resigned from his post earlier this month. Wilson is also the only one of the seven candidates linked to the Giants job known to have received a second interview, suggesting that he might be the favorite.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen told reporters at the Senior Bowl that the expectation was to decide on its next defensive coordinator by the end of the week.

Of the candidates initially linked to the Giants, Bobby Babich was promoted to the Bills defensive coordinator, so he is out of the running. Also, it's believed that given the timeline Schoen offered, Kansas City Chiefs linebackers coach Brendan Daly is out of the running as well, since he wouldn't be available to be hired until after the Super Bowl. 



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Patricia Traina
PATRICIA TRAINA

Patricia Traina has covered the New York Giants for 30+ seasons, and her work has appeared in multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, Forbes, Bleacher Report, and the Sports Illustrated media group. As a credentialed New York Giants press corps member, Patricia has also covered five Super Bowls (three featuring the Giants), the annual NFL draft, and the NFL Scouting Combine. She is the author of The Big 50: The Men and Moments that Made the New York Giants. In addition to her work with New York Giants On SI, Patricia hosts the Locked On Giants podcast. Patricia is also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and the Football Writers Association of America.