SAN FRANCISCO – The Detroit Lions had one of the most creative offenses in the NFL under offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, and after hiring Mike Kafka to help design their passing game, one current NFL quarterback expects that ingenuity to return.
“He played the game,” New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston told the Free Press on “Radio Row” in the buildup to Super Bowl 60. “When you’re bringing in a coach that played the game, I think he’ll be able to bring back what Ben Johnson had left there, the hunger, the intentionality and will to win.”
The Lions hired Kafka to be a high-level offensive assistant on new coordinator Drew Petzing’s staff.
Kafka’s title has not yet been determined, but his role is expected to involve helping with the passing game.
The Lions interviewed Kafka and nine others for their OC job after firing John Morton two days after the season.
They hired Petzing as coordinator, and added Kafka, who finished the year as interim coach of the Giants, a week later.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes told the Free Press at the Senior Bowl last week he was pleasantly surprised to be able to land to Kafka in addition to Petzing.
Petzing, Kafka and Lions coach Dan Campbell all share the same agent.
“We were really high on Kafka, too, in the process and so to be able to get that one, too, I was just like, ‘Holy cow,'” Holmes said.
Kafka played parts of six NFL seasons with seven different teams and broke into the NFL coaching fraternity as an offensive quality control coach with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017.
Kafka spent five seasons working for Andy Reid before joining the Giants as offensive coordinator in 2022. He took over interim coach after Brian Daboll was fired in November and nearly led the Giants to an upset win over the Lions two weeks later.
“Mike Kafka is the man,” Winston said. “His ability to create exciting plays and concepts is going to be very beneficial for Jared Goff.”
Winston threw for 366 yards and two touchdowns against the Lions and caught a 33-yard touchdown pass on a trick play.
Asked about the play this week, Winston called it “iconic,” said, “I’m happy that Kafka gave me the opportunity,” and said he could see Goff scoring in similar fashion on Kafka play design.
“I think Jared’s got it in his bag,” Winston said.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Jameis Winston: Maybe Jared Goff can catch a TD under Mike Kafka
Reporting by Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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