Getty Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.
The Arizona Cardinals, who fired head coach Kliff Kingsbury on January 9, have honed in on two finalists for their head coaching vacancy: Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Kafka was the quarterbacks coach for the Kansas City Chiefs before accepting a role as the OC on Brian Daboll’s staff in New York in 2022. Becoming an NFL head coach after being a quarterbacks coach a year ago would be a spectacular ascent up the coaching ranks.
However, Kansas City head coach Andy Reid revealed he might have helped Kafka by way of a ringing endorsement to Cardinals brass.
Big Red said he pitched Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill on Kafka for their head coaching vacancy, per Charles Goldman of Chiefs Wire during opening night of Super Bowl LVII on February 6.
#Chiefs HC Andy Reid says that he pitched #Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill on #Giants OC Mike Kafka (former #Chiefs QB coach) for their head-coaching vacancy.
Being endorsed by an all-time great NFL coach will work heavily in Kafka’s favor as he works his way towards a head coaching role in the NFL.
Mahomes Speaks Highly of Kafka
Chiefs quarterback and soon-to-be two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes was also asked about Kafka potentially becoming the head coach in Arizona and was in full support of it.
“Coach Kafka is a special person and a special coach,” Mahomes said on opening night, via Chuck Harris of Cardinals Wire. “When he first got here (to Kansas City) he was quality control — that was my first year as a rookie so I spent a lot of time with Coach Kafka where he was teaching me the playbook and teaching me how to be a quarterback in the NFL.
“That continued for a long time and when he left, I knew he was going to be a head coach soon. I know he’s down (here) in Arizona, so if he gets hired there he’ll get that place turned around. He’s a great coach and a great person as well, so I’m excited for him.”
Patrick Mahomes spoke yesterday about Cardinals head coach candidate Mike Kafka, “If he gets hired there he’ll get that place turned around.”
Twitter Chats About Mike Kafka as NFL HC
Twitter users chatted about Mike Kafka and him being a potential head coach in the NFL soon.
“Please Mike Kafka, give the Cards the best interview ever. Give them no chance to Think about Lou. Be the QB Whisperer for Kyler,” one Twitter user wrote.
Please Mike Kafka, give the Cards the best interview ever. Give them no chance to Think about Lou.
Be the QB Whisperer for Kyler
“Seeing both Wink Martindale AND Mike Kafka are deep into the interview process for several teams is terrifying… A testament to how well coached this team was in 2022, but we need another year to run this thing back! Selfishly, hope they stay, but happy for them if they go!” Alex Wilson of Empire State Media wrote.
Seeing both Wink Martindale AND Mike Kafka are deep into the interview process for several teams is terrifying…
A testament to how well coached this team was in 2022, but we need another year to run this thing back!
Selfishly, hope they stay, but happy for them if they go!
“The bigger loss for the #Giants would be Wink Martindale, if Mike Kafka is able to secure this #Cardinals job,” Connor Hughes of SNY wrote. “This is Brian Daboll’s offense. He can always step in if things get weird with a new OC. Wink holds more value, IMO.”
The bigger loss for the #Giants would be Wink Martindale, if Mike Kafka is able to secure this #Cardinals job.
This is Brian Daboll’s offense. He can always step in if things get weird with a new OC.
Wink holds more value, IMO.
“I would have no issue with Mike Kafka leaving. He is replaceable,” another user wrote. “Wink would be much more of a bigger loss.”
“The longer this process takes the more I want Mike Kafka as the Cardinals HC,” another user wrote.
The longer this process takes the more I want Mike Kafka as the Cardinals HC