In some cases, you may even be promoted to a head coaching position with another team. But far more often, they are hired, tied up with (or saddled with) a troubled quarterback, and their untimely demise immediately begins to tick down. And then they left.
They are an endangered species known as NFL offensive coordinators. The Giants still have their rights, and at this point it looks like Mike Kafka is slated to return for a third year on Brian Daboll's staff. If that actually happened, it would mean stability in the most volatile of environments.
Pairing “stability” with almost everything that went wrong with the Giants offense in 2023 is risky business, but this is where we stand. After running the program for 14 years and sprinting down the sidelines in Seattle, Kafka was involved in a dispute with the Seahawks over the head coaching vacancy created when the seemingly ageless Pete Carroll was told to step down. I'm on my way to my second interview. So far in his two years with the Giants, the Kafka for public consumption has been as bland as overcooked penne. Obviously, that was the choice Kafka made. Kafka is still 36 years old and intends to entrust all matters related to Daboll. He works well with players behind closed doors, is smart and prepared, and at a young age is already adept at walking into rooms for head coaching interviews, meeting with four different teams last year and joining the Titans. This cycle has been requested by the Titans. Seahawks.
If Kafka is Seattle's choice — which Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn feels like the favorite — he will be given more leverage and finish the 2023 season ranked 30th in scoring and 29th in total yards. He should be able to lead and explain the offense that finished in . Kafka, who received a solid five-year education under Andy Reid in Kansas City, came to the Giants primarily prepared to run Daboll's offensive line. Although Daboll had no previous experience with Kafka, he delegated play-calling duties to a novice play-caller. It was the most important decision Daboll made heading into his position as head coach. If he regained these dramatic missions, it would mean a major refocus that could hamper his ability to oversee the entire operation and hasten Kafka's interest in moving forward.
This is the way it is in the NFL world. In Major League Baseball, when a manager is feeling the heat, the quick move is to fire the pitching coach. In the NFL, offensive coordinators are fired. Every team in the league has changed offensive coordinators at least once since 2022, when Kafka came to the Giants. So the top is 32 and the bottom is 32. Of course, these comings and goings may also be the result of promotions. Daboll went from the Bills to the Giants, Dave Canales recently went from the Buccaneers to the Panthers, and Brian Callahan went from the Bengals to the Titans. In some cases, the head coach may be fired and the entire staff will be looking for a new job. Most of the time, the head coach feels pressure to take action and the offensive coordinator is the fall guy.
It happens even on winning teams and top quarterbacks. The Bills had Josh Allen, but they fired Ken Dorsey and acquired Joe Brady. The Ravens acquired Lamar Jackson, released Greg Roman and brought in Todd Monken. The Chargers had Justin Herbert, but they fired Joe Lombardi and acquired Kellen Moore. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni couldn't do anything about Shane Steichen becoming the Colts' head coach. However, a one-year trial in which Sirianni promoted quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson to offensive coordinator to continue the development of the highly regarded Jalen Hurts failed, and Sirianni is now the new OC. It's on the market.
When the Giants hired Kafka, he became the sixth first-time offensive coordinator in the NFC. Eight teams will have new permanent head coaches in 2024, which means eight new staff members. Daboll was never in danger of being replaced despite going 6-11, a sequel to a debut season in which he went 9-7-1 (with one win in the playoffs). There was certainly a groundswell to change his staff. He has already found a new special teams coordinator, with the Giants' next defensive coordinator following the ugly departure of Wink Martindale being the most notable.
Kafka's next mission is an interesting one. He will serve as the head coach of the West team at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas. Kafka will be sitting in the big chair and experiencing a little bit of his life, albeit at an offseason college all-star game. The inside information he develops about the NFL draft prospects he works with could help the Giants moving forward. Of course, if Kafka were still with the Giants.
