The Chicago Bears returned to a familiar source as they continued searching for the franchise’s next head coach.
So far, they have virtually met with Mike Vrabel, Drew Petzing, Pete Carroll, and Anthony Weaver. New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka closed out a busy second day of interviews for the Bears.
Mike Kafka’s Strong Ties of Note Amid Bears HC Interview Process
Record: 18-32 (as OC)
Playoff record: 1-1
Bears GM Has Ties to Mike Kafka
“Kakfa’s a Chicago native, played QB at St. Rita and Northwestern, and was with Bears GM Ryan Poles for 5 years in KC,” The Monday Morning Quarterback’s Alber Breer posted on X on January 8. “Kafka’s also interviewing with the Saints tomorrow [January 9].”
Kafka has spent the past three seasons with the Giants, who ranked 15th, 30th, and 31st in scoring during that span.
They were also 18th, 29th, and 30th in yards gained in that window.
The biggest caveat on Kafka is that he did not call plays for the Giants. He works under head coach Brian Daboll, a former offensive coordinator himself. Otherwise, “his” offenses’ lack of consistency or success would be concerning.
That they got progressively worse each season remains concerning and something Kafka will surely be asked to explain his role in.
The Giants made the postseason in Kafka’s first season with a 9-7-1 record in 2022.
New York went 9-25 over the next two seasons, turning over their starting quarterback job to Tommy DeVito and benching (and ultimately releasing) Daniel Jones. Again, those were Daboll’s teams and decisions to make.
Surely, though, the Bears interview panel will want to know how Kafka would have handled the situation given different circumstances.
Mike Kafka Has Had Strong Mentorship
Kafka has learned under Daboll and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid in his career. He helped the Chiefs win the Super Bowl after the 2018 season and get back in 2019. Kafka was Patrick Mahomes’ position coach for four Pro Bowls and a First-Team All-Pro nod.
Kafka has worked to climb the coaching ranks.
He began his coaching as a graduate assistant at his college alma mater. Before that, Kafka was a four-year player at Northwestern University.
Kafka led the Big Ten in multiple passing metrics as a senior, and he was a fourth-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2010 NFL Draft. He appeared in four games in 2011, all as a backup.
Kafka completed 68.8% of his passes for 107 yards and 2 interceptions.
Thomas Brown’s background as a player helped him connect with the locker room, and Kafka – a rising name in the coaching ranks – could experience something similar if he is hired.
He has the background and played the position considered the most important in the NFL if not the most difficult in all of sports. How that translates to the Bears’ “leader of men” focus remains unclear. But leadership is also one of the top characteristics of quarterbacks.
And with his ties to the area, he is well-versed in the traditions.
Kafka also spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Tennessee Titans as a player.