Chicago Native Kafka on Bears' Head Coach Radar

Mike Kafka, with his rich background both as a player across various NFL teams and his rapid rise in coaching ranks, represents a blend of experience and innovative football acumen. After his promotion from quarterbacks coach to passing game coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs, Kafka took on the role of offensive coordinator with the Giants in 2022, showcasing his capability to helm an NFL offense.

Despite the Giants' offensive struggles, ranking near the bottom in total yards and points scored last season, Kafka's reputation apparently remains fairly untarnished to the Bear's front-office brass. He's viewed as an offensive mind with potential, particularly in developing quarterbacks—a critical point for the Bears as they focus on building around young talent like Caleb Williams. However, his recent inability to develop another former first-round pick, Daniel Jones, has led some to question exactly what the Bears see in Kafka. The local ties to Chicago and Northwestern University could only sweeten the proposition for General Manager Ryan Poles.

The Bears' expansive search has produced an array of candidates. With interviews already requested for Detroit Lions’ Ben Johnson and other notable coordinators, Kafka's inclusion adds another name to the growing list of candidates.

This coaching search, including names like Aaron Glenn, Vance Joseph, Anthony Weaver, and Drew Petzing, reflects the Bears' ambition to cast a wide net in their search for a new head coach.