When the Detroit Lions brought in Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator last month, the reaction from fans was mixed at best. Petzing’s three-year run calling plays for the Arizona Cardinals didn’t exactly inspire confidence, and skepticism followed him to Detroit.
That unease faded quickly once the Lions added former Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka to the staff. His reputation for creativity — particularly in areas where Detroit struggled last season, like the ground game and offensive line efficiency — immediately boosted optimism around the new offensive setup.
However, fresh offseason buzz now suggests Kafka’s stay in Detroit could be brief.
According to league chatter coming out of San Francisco, Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald may be interested in maintaining a Kubiak-influenced offensive system. The Seahawks were reportedly impressed with Kafka during head coaching interviews a couple of years ago, and now that he’s serving as a senior offensive assistant in Detroit, he could once again be on Seattle’s radar.
Seahawks Could Target Kafka Again
Given Kafka’s résumé, it’s not shocking that Seattle might pursue him. Still, the possibility is unsettling for Lions fans who viewed his arrival as a stabilizing move after Petzing’s hiring raised eyebrows.
Kafka’s presence helped turn what felt like a risky situation into a more hopeful one. The Chicago native brings championship pedigree, having spent five seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs between 2017 and 2021. During that stretch, he held several key offensive roles, including quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator, and earned a Super Bowl ring along the way.
In 2022, Kafka left Kansas City to become the New York Giants’ offensive coordinator. His responsibilities expanded in 2024 when he was given the assistant head coach title. Around that same time, Seattle attempted to interview him for its offensive coordinator vacancy, but the Giants blocked the request, ultimately leading the Seahawks to hire Klint Kubiak instead.
Seattle’s interest in Kafka goes back even further. He was interviewed twice during the Seahawks’ head coaching search before Mike Macdonald landed the job in 2024, underscoring just how highly the organization thinks of him.
Now, circumstances could align in a way that puts Detroit in danger of losing yet another valuable coach. The Lions are still feeling the effects of last offseason, when offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn departed. Watching Kafka leave before making any real impact would be another tough blow.
At the moment, all of this remains speculation. Kafka is still expected to be part of the Lions’ staff for the 2026 season. Ideally for Detroit, that doesn’t change.
With an offense loaded with elite talent — including Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, and more — the combination of Petzing and Kafka has the potential to unlock another level of production.
For that reason, head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes may need to pull out all the stops to keep Kafka in Detroit. If not, the Lions risk undermining Petzing before his system ever has a real chance to take hold — especially if Seattle comes calling again.
