New Detroit Lions passing game coordinator Mike Kafka has yet to coach on the Lions' sideline, but he's already receiving praises from one of the best to ever do it.
During the league meetings earlier in April, Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid commented on the Lions' hire of Kafka, saying. "Yeah, so I had him as a player, too. I picked him up out of Northwestern there.” Reid continued, “I think the world of him. He’s a brilliant kid. Not a kid anymore, a brilliant guy."
"He’s got a great football mind. He’s gonna do good. He’ll be good for the Lions, yeah."
Very high praise from a legend. Reid has won three Super Bowls in five appearances with the Chiefs. Before then, Reid was with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he led them to a Super Bowl during the 2004-05 season. Combined, Reid has led his teams to 12 conference championship games in 27 NFL seasons.
Even after a down 6-11 season, Reid is still widely considered near or at the top of the active head coaching rankings. In fact, that losing season was his first since 2012 -- his last with the Philadelphia Eagles. It was also his first single-digit win season since 2014, which was the most recent season the Chiefs missed the playoffs before this past season.
If there's any head coach you want such praise from, it's Reid.
Kafka brings his Reid influence to Detroit
Kafka was drafted as a quarterback in 2010 by the Eagles, who at the time were coached by Reid. In 2017, Reid, now with the Chiefs, gave Kafka his first NFL coaching break as the team's offensive quality control.
Kafka quickly rose the ranks, being promoted to quarterbacks coach in 2018 and 2019, during Patrick Mahomes' first MVP season and his and Reid's first Super Bowl together.
Kafka earned the passing game coordinator label in the two following seasons and played his part in the Chiefs reaching another Super Bowl and another AFC Championship game, before leaving for the offensive coordinator job with the New York Giants.
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The Lions will hope Kafka emulates some of that Chiefs' success in Detroit, which is looking to rebound after missing the playoffs thanks in part to a questionably run offense. Kafka will have more tools to work with than he had in recent seasons when with the Giants, including an All-Pro wide receiver and a QB who has proven recently enough that he can have a top-five MVP season.
This will be the most talented passing game and the best head coach Kafka has worked with since his tenure with the Chiefs. He'll be able to put that "brilliant" mind to work, despite not being the one to run the offense, and help craft a passing offense that can win big games.
Don't believe it? Just ask his Super Bowl-winning former boss.