Giants coach Brian Daboll shifts play-calling duties back to offensive coordinator Mike Kafka
Giants assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Mike Kafka meets with the media during training camp on Aug. 6 in East Rutherford, N.J. Credit: Ed Murray
Giants coach Brian Daboll confirmed Thursday what has been evident since the spring: Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will resume play-calling duties to open the season.
Kafka was the play-caller in 2022 and 2023 before Daboll took over those duties last season. It didn’t help as the Giants, plagued by quarterback woes and inconsistent play, were 31st in scoring, 30th in total offense and yards per play and 28th in passing yards.
They also were near the NFL’s bottom in those categories in 2023. However, the Giants have a different quarterback room after adding Russell Wilson, Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston.
“I haven’t really had a whole bunch of time to think about that,” Kafka said Thursday when asked what it means to resume play-calling duties. “I’ve been just thinking about the players, thinking about the guys and how can we make them great.”
During the preseason, in which Kafka called the plays, the offense put up at least 30 points in every game. It doesn’t mean anything for the regular season, but it was encouraging for a team that scored at least 20 points only five times last season. That was tied with the Titans for second-fewest in the NFL.
In 2023, the Giants scored at least 20 only six times, tied for third-fewest in the league.
That might be why there will be another change for Kafka, who is calling plays from the sideline. In the past, he called plays from the coach’s box, and he remained there last season when Daboll called the plays.
It’s a change that Daboll and Kafka discussed and tried out in the preseason. For Kafka, it offers a better vantage point with the players as opposed to seeing the entire field.
“That’s always fun to be right there with the players and seeing eye to eye and communicating with them more directly,” he said. “You can do certain elements of that up in the box, but there’s really no substitute for being on the field.”
He added: “You’re going to use the same voice and talk to the quarterback and look them in the eyes, go down to the offensive line and hit each position group. I think there’s a certain element of leadership, and just being down in there with them, that’s been fun. We’ll see how it shakes out.”
The decision had long been suspected since president/CEO John Mara said he talked to Daboll about reconsidering his play-calling duties during their meeting right before last season’s finale. Mara said he didn’t demand it but that it was one of several issues he thought were worth discussing.
Ultimately, the decision belonged to Daboll. The change began during OTAs when Kafka was seen calling plays on a walkie-talkie during practice.
“Mike’s done a great job this preseason,” Daboll said Wednesday. “He’s done a good job with the staff. Got a lot of confidence in Mike and the offensive staff.”
It’s one more way the Giants have attempted to shake up an offense that has disappointed since Daboll’s tenure began in 2022. Adding Wilson in free agency helps, given his ability to push the ball downfield and extend plays with his legs.
Wilson last month praised Kafka as a brilliant mind who sees the game as a former quarterback, which helped them collaborate well on ideas.
Receiver Wan’Dale Robinson said the only noticeable change is the difference in personality between Kafka and Daboll.
“Dabes is a little more fiery than Kaf is,” Robinson said. “But at the end of the day, I feel like they’re both great offensive minds and they want us to put up points.”
Thomas doesn’t practice
Left tackle Andrew Thomas (foot) didn’t practice Thursday as part of his usual ramp-up, Daboll said. He’ll be re-evaluated during Friday’s practice to determine his availability for Sunday’s opener against the Washington Commanders.
Thomas was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice. Daboll said he did more work than usual without saying if that included team drills, something Thomas said last week he hadn’t done since being cleared to practice.
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
