Three offseasons in a row, Mike Kafka received interviews for NFL head-coaching vacancies.

That included earlier this year, when the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints considered the offensive-minded Kafka before hiring Ben Johnson and Kellen Moore, respectively.

Kafka now gets his first chance to run an NFL team, as the Giants named him their interim head coach after firing Brian Daboll on Monday.

Here’s what you need to know about Kafka:

GIANTS HISTORY

Kafka, 38, had been the Giants’ offensive coordinator since 2022, when Daboll added him to the coaching staff shortly after his own hiring.

The Giants promoted Kafka to assistant head coach before the 2024 season while keeping him in place as the OC.

Kafka has been the Giants’ offensive playcaller for much of his tenure, though Daboll handled those duties in 2024. Kafka resumed the playcaller role this season.

The Giants (2-8) rank 14th in the NFL in yards per game (332.9) and are tied for 24th in points per game (21.7).

Monday’s elevation of Kafka should provide at least some continuity for Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, even with Daboll no longer in the picture.

FORMER PRO

Kafka played quarterback at Northwestern from 2005-09, then went in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles.

He never started an NFL game but made four appearances, all in 2011 with the Eagles, including a loss to the Giants in which he completed 4-of-7 passes for 35 yards and two interceptions.

Kafka also spent time with the New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals before leaving the NFL after the 2015 season.

COACHING BACKGROUND

The Chicago-born Kafka spent one season as a graduate assistant with Northwestern in 2016 before joining the Kansas City Chiefs as an offensive quality control coach in 2017.

He spent five years on the Chiefs staff under Andy Reid, who was his head coach as a player in Philly.

Kafka was the Chiefs’ quarterbacks coach from 2018-21 and also served as the passing game coordinator in the final two of those seasons.

With Kansas City, Kafka helped develop Patrick Mahomes, whom the Chiefs drafted in 2017.

Kafka won Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs in 2020.

ON THE RISE

Kafka also interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans in recent seasons, and he served as one of the head coaches in the 2025 Senior Bowl in a nod to his ascension as a candidate.

New Orleans conducted two interviews with Kafka last winter before hiring Moore.

Over the summer, Kafka was asked how his experience as a former player helps him as a coach.

“Each coach brings their own touch and feel to how they approach the game, and I think reaching the players, getting them to understand the importance of certain things, whether it’s on the field, off the field, the fundamental part of it and just sharing your experiences,” Kafka said in August.

“For me, that’s been probably the coolest thing, being in those same seats with the guys, being in the locker room with the guys, being able to relate to the players and understanding what they’re going through.”