NFL Rumors: Mike Kafka to Have 2nd Seahawks HC Interview amid Links To Cowboys' Quinn

New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will take part in a second interview for the Seattle Seahawks' vacant head coaching position Wednesday, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB.

Breer noted that Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham had a second interview with the Seahawks on Tuesday, while Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero are scheduled for second interviews later this week.

Seattle's head coaching job became available earlier this month when the Seahawks surprising decided to move on from Pete Carroll, ending his 14-year tenure as the team's head coach.

Kafka, 36, has spent the past two seasons as the Giants' offensive coordinator under head coach Brian Daboll.

Before breaking into coaching, Kafka was a quarterback at Northwestern, and he bounced around between several NFL teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Minnesota Vikings.

The Kansas City Chiefs hired Kafka as an offensive quality control coach in 2017, and he went on to serve in multiple roles for the team through 2021, including quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator.

Daboll gave Kafka his big break as OC when he was hired as the Giants' head coach, and they enjoyed a highly successful first year together.

After the Giants went 4-13 in 2021, Daboll and Kafka helped lead them to a 9-7-1 record in 2022, and their first playoff berth since 2016.

The Giants exceeded expectations by finishing 15th in scoring, and it was largely thanks to their ground game, which ranked fourth in the NFL.

Quarterback Daniel Jones had the best season of his career, completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 3,205 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions, while also rushing for 708 yards and seven scores.

Running back Saquon Barkley had a resurgent season under Daboll and Kafka as well, rushing for 1,213 yards and 10 touchdowns en route to his second career Pro Bowl nod.

Things went south for the Giants in 2023, however, as they went just 6-11, and the offense dipped to 29th in total yards and 30th in scoring.

Issues at the quarterback position were perhaps most to blame, as Jones was lost for the season after making six starts, forcing undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito to make six starts and veteran journeyman Tyrod Taylor to make five.

Collectively, Jones, DeVito and Taylor threw just 15 touchdown passes compared to 12 picks on the year.

Kafka would have far better offensive talent in Seattle, though, led by quarterback Geno Smith, running backs Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet and wide receivers DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

The Seahawks narrowly missed the playoffs with a 9-8 record after making it at 9-8 in 2022, but with the proper head coaching hire, it won't be surprising to see them back in the playoffs in 2024.