As part of their offseason changes, the Detroit Lions added former New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka to their coaching staff as the team’s new passing game coordinator.

Before joining Detroit, Kafka served as offensive coordinator for the Giants and briefly stepped in as the team’s interim head coach. Prior to that, he spent time in the NFL as a quarterback with the Philadelphia Eagles and later moved into coaching, working with the Kansas City Chiefs as both quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.

Throughout his career, Kafka has worked closely with veteran coach Andy Reid, who shared strong praise for the Lions’ newest offensive staff member.

Andy Reid Shares Positive Thoughts About Mike Kafka

Reid first became familiar with Kafka during their time together with the Eagles and later during their years with the Chiefs. According to Reid, Detroit made a smart decision by bringing him in.

Reid explained that he originally drafted Kafka out of Northwestern University and has always admired his intelligence and football knowledge. He noted that Kafka possesses an excellent understanding of the game and believes he will be a valuable addition to Detroit’s coaching staff.

Such praise from Reid could be encouraging news for Lions supporters, especially as the team aims to bounce back and reach the playoffs after finishing the 2025 season with a 9–8 record and narrowly missing postseason qualification.

Lions Reshape Offensive Coaching Staff

Kafka was not the only offensive coaching change made by Detroit during the offseason.

The team moved on from offensive coordinator John Morton after only one season. During the year, head coach Dan Campbell eventually took over play-calling responsibilities, but the Lions still fell short of earning a playoff berth.

To address the situation, Detroit hired former Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing as their new offensive coordinator.

Shortly after Kafka joined the organization, Petzing discussed how the diverse backgrounds of the offensive coaching staff could benefit the team moving forward. He explained that coaches like Kafka bring experience from different systems, teams, and players, which can help the staff evaluate ideas from multiple perspectives.

Petzing emphasized that the goal of the coaching group is to collaborate and find the best solutions for the offense. He added that having creative and adaptable coaches who are willing to share ideas—such as Kafka—strengthens the entire staff.

Mike Kafka’s NFL Playing Career

Before transitioning into coaching, Kafka spent time as a quarterback with several NFL teams. During his playing days, he was part of organizations including the Eagles, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans, and Cincinnati Bengals.

Now transitioning fully into his coaching role with the Lions, Kafka will be part of the group tasked with helping Detroit’s offense evolve as the team looks to return to playoff contention.