Big Blue View
Mike Kafka meets the media early Wednesday afternoon for the first time since being named interim coach of the New York Giants. So will begin the public portion of Kafka’s audition for the full-time Giants job, or for a head-coaching job somewhere else at the NFL or college level.
Kafka’s audition for the full-time head-coaching gig in 2026, or a head-coaching job elsewhere, will begin with his presence at the microphone.
During his 3+ season as Brian Daboll’s offensive coordinator, Kafka rarely showed any personality to the media. This season he has been a little more expansive in his answers. Overall, though, think Daniel Jones — only more boring.
Part of that had to be on purpose. Daboll clearly never wanted his assistant coaches to say too much, and he chafed at the freewheeling Wink Martindale’s willingness to ignore that wish and say whatever he wanted. Which, to be honest, helped make Martindale a media darling. Until, of course, he wasn’t.
During our reaction podcast on Monday to the firing of Daboll, Nick Falato asked me if I thought this was a real audition for the 38-year-old Kafka, and what I was looking to learn. That interaction begins at the 2:50 mark of the show.
First and foremost, I want to see if his personality is as milquetoast in front of the media when he is the boss as it was when he was an underling. My biggest question about Kafka isn’t about play-calling or knowledge. My biggest question is whether or not he has the personality to be the front man for an organization, whether he has the ability and demeanor to gain the respect and attention of a team filled with highly-paid alpha males. His presence at the podium when he is on his own will be a clue.
I want to see his practice field and sideline demeanor. Players who have played for him when he has been a head coach at the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl have talked about the passion and the energy Kafka brought to those roles. That isn’t something we have seen over the past four seasons, when he was not the boss.
Here are a few topics I hope Kafka addresses Wednesday:
The Giants fan base has clearly seen enough of Russell Wilson. If Jaxson Dart has not cleared concussion protocol, will Kafka continue with Wilson as the next quarterback in line or turn to Winston? Even if Dart can play, will Kafka at least elevate Winston to the No. 2 role?
Honestly, I think Winston jumping the ineffective Wilson on the depth chart is something the vast majority of fans would like to see.
How players were being held accountable, of if they were being held accountable at all, became a major topic as the Brian Daboll era wound to its inevitable, failed conclusion.
Too often players have not seemed to face any repercussions for seeming not to give full effort...
