Mike Kafka is back calling the plays for the New York Giants.
So after ceding the play-calling duties to head coach Brian Daboll in 2024, the fourth-year Giants offensive coordinator spoke about again calling the plays for the Giants in 2025, which Daboll announced Thursday.
Kafka became a hot potential head-coach candidate after calling Giants plays in 2022. Led by then-quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley, and Kafka’s utilization of each, the Giants went 9-7-1 and made the playoffs then defeated the Minnesota Vikings 31-24 in the wild-card round.
What Did Mike Kafka Say About Being The Giants’ Playcaller?
That Kafka is still with the Giants, and not either head coaching in the NFL or in a lesser role with a different team, is both confounding and a testament to his success with Jones in 2022.
Yet, even though he was technically demoted so Daboll could call the plays last year — the Giants were 31st in points per game (16.1) in 2024 and 30th in yards per game (294.8) — Kafka said he is back in a rhythm making calls.
“It’s just the game,” Kafka said. “It’s just about getting with the players and giving them what they like and going into evaluation. It’s just getting back into the flow of it.”
Kafka said he intends to be on the sideline, rather than in the press box, while calling plays so the players can hear things directly from him and look players in the eyes.
But there is arguably more offensive talent on the Giants roster in 2025, especially in their quarterbacks room with veterans Wilson, Jameis Winston and 2025 first-round pick Jaxson Dart. There also is pressure on Daboll, and in turn Kafka, since the Giants have missed the playoffs two straight years and posted double-digit losses in seven of the past eight seasons.
Still, Kafka said his focus is not on but on the players who will execute and trying to help the Giants get back to the playoffs for just the third time since they won Super Bowl XLVI.
“I haven’t really had a whole bunch of time to think about that,” Kafka said of being the play-calling duties. “I’ve been thinking about the guys and how to make them great, thinking about our coaching staff and how I can be a servant to them and how I can make our offense better.”
What Did Mike Kafka Say About Jaxson Dart?
Kafka was asked specifically how ready Dart is to play at the NFL level.
“He’s prepping to play and prepping to getting ready to roll,” Kafka said. “I think he’s right on schedule and right where he is supposed to be, in terms of the game plan, and that prep will continue to go right up until game time.”
Dart was, of course, listed as the Giants backup quarterback on their first unofficial depth chart ahead of their opener against the Washington Commanders, after an exquisitely played preseason.
Still, that means Dart, the team’s potential future franchise QB, is one hit from being in as an NFL starter. But according to Kafka, both Dart and Winston need to be ready to potentially go Sunday.
“I think Jaxson and Jameis and everyone in the quarterback room has to be ready to play,” Kafka said.
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