As the New York Giants continue to reshape a coaching staff and roster that vastly underperformed in 2023, one move that many expect to happen but isn’t currently on the to-do list is replacing offensive coordinator Mike Kafka.
Kafka, who recently completed his second season as the team’s offensive coordinator, has been the subject of an ESPN report that highlights his dissatisfaction with his position in the organization.
However, Kafka, who reportedly has one year left on his contract, appears to be willing to leave the organization only if he is offered a head coaching position, which he has already been considered for by two teams this offseason.
The New York Postreiterated what Daboll told reporters at his year-end press conference, that the expectation was for Kafka, who will be the head coach of the West team at the Shrine Bowl, to return.
The Giants have no intention of moving on from Kafka. If he gets a head coaching gig, of course he will depart. It will be interesting to see what happens if there is outside interest in hiring Kafka as an offensive coordinator and if Kafka is piqued by that interest.
While Daboll also said the same thing about defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s return, the statement about both coordinators was made before he spoke with either man.
Martindale, as he is known by now, stormed out of the team’s facility following his explosive meeting with Daboll in which he was informed that the head coach planned to dismiss Drew and Kevin Wilkins, two of Martindale’s most trusted assistants.
Martindale has since resigned from his position. Kafka, who reportedly had the play calling taken away from him at varying points in the season, appeared to have had a more civilized and low-key meeting with Daboll as he currently remains on staff.
However, there have been other reports that Kafka could look to take a lateral move with another team if he doesn’t get a head coaching job and that the Giants would not block such a move if he were to request it.
“That’s something I talk with those guys about–Joe and I talk about it,” Daboll said when asked if he would let any of his assistant coaches leave for another opportunity despite still being under contract. “Every situation is different.”
For now, all is quiet on the coaching front for the Giants, who continue to consider candidates to replace Martindale and who, if the Post’s report is correct, are prepared to run it back with Kafka as their offensive coordinator assuming he’s still on board with that.
But what wasn’t said–and Daboll himself left the door open for this possibility at his year-end press conference–is if Kafka does return, will he remain the team’s playcaller?
“Those are conversations we’ll have here over the next few months of what direction we’ll go and we’ll make those decisions as we do a full evaluation,” he said.
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