As the NFL coaching carousel keeps spinning, the Seattle Seahawks could be eyeing a familiar name to fill a key role on their offensive staff. With Klint Kubiak set to take over as the Raiders’ new head coach after the Super Bowl, Seattle will have a vacancy at offensive coordinator-and Mike Kafka is a name worth watching.
Kafka, currently an assistant with the Detroit Lions, has quietly built one of the more intriguing coaching résumés in the league. At just 38 years old, he’s already held a variety of roles that give him a well-rounded offensive background. After a journeyman playing career that included stints with seven NFL teams, Kafka jumped into coaching in 2016 at Northwestern before joining Andy Reid’s staff in Kansas City the following year.
He quickly climbed the ladder with the Chiefs, moving from offensive quality control coach to quarterbacks coach in 2018, and then adding passing game coordinator duties in 2020. That’s no small feat in a system that helped mold Patrick Mahomes into a generational talent. Kafka’s fingerprints are all over the Chiefs’ offensive evolution during that stretch, and that pedigree has made him a hot name in coaching circles.
In 2022, Kafka took over as the Giants’ offensive coordinator, and while New York’s offense has had its ups and downs, the numbers from 2025 tell a more complete story. The Giants finished 12th in total yards, 16th in points scored, and cracked the top 10 in both rushing and passing yards. That kind of balance is hard to come by in today’s NFL, especially with a roster that battled inconsistency at quarterback and injuries throughout the season.
When Brian Daboll was fired late in the 2025 campaign, Kafka was elevated to interim head coach for the final seven games. The Giants went 2-5 in that stretch, but the experience of leading a team-even in a tough situation-adds another layer to Kafka’s growing résumé. The Giants clearly valued his leadership, promoting him to assistant head coach before the season ended.
Seattle reportedly showed interest in Kafka last offseason but was blocked by the Giants from interviewing him for the same OC role. Now, with Kafka in Detroit and the Seahawks once again in need, the door could be open.
If the Seahawks decide to look internally, a few names are also in the mix. Quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko, offensive passing game coordinator Jake Peetz, and running backs coach Justin Outten are all potential candidates. Each brings something different to the table, but none have the same combination of play-calling experience and quarterback development chops that Kafka offers.
Ultimately, Seattle’s next offensive coordinator will be tasked with shaping the next phase of their offense-whether that’s continuing to build around their current quarterback or grooming a new one. Given Kafka’s track record, especially his work with young QBs and his experience in both pass-heavy and balanced systems, he could be a strong fit for what the Seahawks need moving forward.
Nothing is official yet, but keep an eye on this one. Kafka’s name isn’t just circulating-it's gaining momentum.