The Detroit Lions could have another future NFL head coach on their staff this season — Mike Kafka. The league, at least, appears to see that as a possibility.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday that Kafka is one of 16 coaches who received an invite to the NFL’s accelerator program.
The program is intended to increase diversity in leadership roles throughout the NFL. This year, Fowler wrote the program shifted its focus “from high-potential candidates to senior-level executives and coaches more aligned with head coach and general manager readiness.”
As a result, Kafka will be one of 16 coaches and 18 executives at the event on Monday and Tuesday in Orlando, Florida.
The Lions hired Kafka as their passing game coordinator this offseason. From 2022-25, he served as the New York Giants offensive coordinator.
After the Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll in the middle of last season, Kafka became the team’s interim head coach. Under Kafka, the Giants posted a 2-5 record.
Lions’ Mike Kafka Picked for NFL’s Accelerator Program
To some, Kafka might seem like an odd pick for the NFL’s accelerator program. The Giants didn’t bother to keep the assistant on staff after moving on from Daboll this offseason.
The easy explanation for that move, though, was the hiring of John Harbaugh. It was pretty clear this offseason Harbaugh wanted his own coaches. It probably would have made very little sense for the Super Bowl-winning coach to keep the man he was replacing on staff.
Kafka landed on his feet as pass game coordinator for the Lions. That should be a role that helps him land another head coach opportunity.
Attending the league’s accelerator program will only help.
“The May accelerator is intended to focus on advancing talent from underrepresented groups,” the NFL wrote in a March memo addressed to all 32 teams, via Fowler. “While remaining open to qualified senior-level candidates of all backgrounds.”
This year, both minority and non-minority candidates are set to attend the program.
Along with Kafka, Fowler listed the other notable assistants set to go to the program.
“Many of the coaching participants — Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Rams offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, Detroit Lions passing game coordinator Mike Kafka, Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde, Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and Denver Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi — have received multiple head coaching interviews in recent years,” wrote Fowler.
Kafka Following Similar Path as Dan Campbell?
Kafka landing with the Lions is intriguing because of what he could provide the Detroit passing offense. But within Kafka’s candidacy as a future head coach, his arrival in Detroit is also interesting because the 38-year-old assistant will now get to learn under Dan Campbell.
Like Kafka, Campbell became an interim head coach before turning 40. Campbell led the Miami Dolphins to a 5-7 record during 2015.
Miami, though, hired Adam Gase the following season.
Campbell returned to coaching tight ends with the New Orleans Saints before his opportunity with the Lions.
Entering his sixth season in Detroit this fall, Campbell owns a 53-43-1 record. He has led the Lions to a lot of firsts, including an NFC North title and the NFC championship game.
Under Campbell, Kafka will be able to apply what he learned as Giants interim head coach and continue to grow under a successful head coach who also started in the same rare position.
Kafka played quarterback in the NFL for six seasons from 2010-15. After one season as a graduate assistant at Northwestern, Kafka joined the Kansas City Chiefs staff. He served as the team’s offensive quality control in 2017.
From 2018-19, Kafka was the Chiefs quarterbacks coach. He added passing game coordinator to his duties in 2020.
He became Giants offensive coordinator during 2022. In addition to his OC duties, Kafka became Giants assistant head coach in 2024.
New Lions Assistant Chosen for Special NFL Offseason Program: Report