Detroit Lions Could Lose Key Coach to Super Bowl-Winner Seattle Seahawks
The Detroit Lions could soon lose an important member of their coaching staff to a Super Bowl team.
The Seattle Seahawks, who finished the 2025-26 season with a 14-3 record and earned the top seed in the NFC, are preparing for major coaching changes following their appearance in Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots. Those changes could directly impact Detroit.
According to an NFL insider, Seattle is expected to target a Detroit Lions assistant coach as a potential replacement on its offensive staff.
Seahawks Coaching Changes Could Affect Lions
Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is reportedly expected to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders after the Super Bowl. If that move becomes official, the Seahawks will need to fill a major vacancy on their staff.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that Mike Kafka, currently a senior offensive assistant with the Lions, is one of the top candidates to replace Kubiak in Seattle.
“Some people I’ve talked to here in San Francisco think Seattle coach Mike Macdonald will want to keep a similar, Kubiak-style system in place,” Fowler wrote.
“Seattle was very impressed with Mike Kafka during head coach interviews two years ago. He’s now a senior assistant in Detroit and could be a name to watch.”
Lions Recently Overhauled Offensive Staff
The Lions hired Drew Petzing as offensive coordinator in January 2026. Petzing previously served as OC for the Arizona Cardinals, where the team finished 3-14 during the 2025-26 season.
Because of concerns about that performance, Detroit followed the move by adding former New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, which was viewed as a stabilizing hire for the staff.
However, Kafka could leave Detroit before the 2026-27 NFL season even begins if Seattle makes a move.
Seahawks Have Multiple Candidates
Kafka is not the only option Seattle is considering.
Fowler also identified several in-house candidates:
Andrew Janocko, quarterbacks coach
Jake Peetz, passing game coordinator
Justin Outten, running backs coach
Still, Kafka’s experience as a former offensive coordinator and interim head coach makes him an attractive outside option for the Seahawks.
Post-Super Bowl Coaching Dominoes Loom
As is typical following the Super Bowl, major coaching moves are expected across the NFL.
“Coaching dominoes will fall in Seattle after the Super Bowl,” Fowler explained. “Klint Kubiak is headed to Las Vegas, and he will need an offensive coordinator.”
If Seattle ultimately hires Kafka, the Detroit Lions would lose a key offensive mind just months after restructuring their coaching staff.
