The New York Giants offense improved in head coach Brian Daboll’s first season. The team went from four wins in 2021 to nine wins last season. Quarterback Daniel Jones had a breakout year in his fourth season, and Saquon Barkley was healthy and as productive as ever. Let’s take a look at the offensive coordinator who helped turn things around in New York.
Who Currently Serves as the New York Giants Offensive Coordinator?
Mike Kafka is the team’s offensive coordinator. During his playing career, he started 30 games at Northwestern and set single-game school records for passing yards and rushing yards by a quarterback.
In the fourth round of the 2010 draft, the Eagles selected Kafka, but he played in just four career games in 2011. Kafka also played with the Patriots, Buccaneers, and Vikings until he retired after the 2015 season.
MORE: List of Current NFL Offensive Coordinators (Updated 2023)
Kafka began his coaching career at Northwestern as a graduate assistant in 2016. Andy Reid, his former Eagles coach, then hired him in Kansas City. Kafka was on the Chiefs’ staff for five seasons, including two as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.
With the Chiefs, Kafka coached in the postseason every year he was in Kansas City. The team reached the AFC Championship Game in four of the five seasons he was there. And the Chiefs won one of the two Super Bowls they appeared in.
How Long Has Mike Kafka Been the Giants’ OC?
Kafka is in his second season as the team’s offensive coordinator. New York scored 107 more points last season than in 2021. The Giants’ rushing game improved by almost 50 yards per game, and the team’s first-down production improved by more than three per game.
Under Kafka’s direction, Jones’ play made a huge jump. Jones set career highs in passing yards, rushing yards, and completion percentage, along with a career low in interceptions. In fact, he led the NFL by throwing an interception on only 1.1% of his passes.
Barkley was another player to see his production improve under Kafka. He set a career high with 1,312 rush yards and increased his rush yards per game from 45.6 in 2021 to 82.0 last season.
Who Was the Offensive Coordinator Before Kafka?
Jason Garrett was the Giants offensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021. Under Garrett, the offense scored the fewest touchdowns in the NFL. The Giants were 9-20 with him leading the offense.
In 2021, Garrett was fired after 10 games. Freddie Kitchens was named interim offensive coordinator to finish the season.