Another Lions Coach Gets His Shot at the Big Leagues
The NFL is bringing back its accelerator program after putting it on pause last year, and Lions passing game coordinator Mike Kafka will be among the 34 coaches and executives heading to Orlando this Monday and Tuesday. Because of course he will be.
This is what happens when you actually know what you’re doing as an organization. You hire quality coaches, they develop, and the league takes notice. Brad Holmes didn’t just replace John Morton’s departure with another warm body. He brought in Kafka to help new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, and now Kafka is getting the kind of recognition that could land him a head coaching gig.
Kafka Knows This Circuit Well
This isn’t Kafka’s first rodeo with the accelerator program. He participated in 2024, back when he was the Giants offensive coordinator, and nearly landed the Saints head coaching job after a couple of strong years in New York. The guy knows how to work a room and how to talk shop.
“Just networking and meeting a lot of the coaches that are here,” Kafka told NFL Network about his previous experience. “Then we’re breaking down into workshops and talking about media and things that come up in these interviews. So, it’s all great information—it’s all great ways to continue to improve as a coach.”
The program has been retooled this year, downsized from its previous iterations and focused specifically on candidates they view as ready to make the jump to head coach or general manager roles right now. That’s not accident. That’s recognition.
What This Means for Detroit
Here’s the thing Lions fans need to know: if this offense clicks under Petzing and Kafka’s guidance, don’t be surprised if Kafka gets serious head coaching looks in 2027. The accelerator program isn’t summer camp for coaches. It’s where the league develops its next wave of leadership.
The Lions won’t get compensatory picks if Kafka gets promoted next year since he hasn’t been here for two seasons yet. But honestly? That’s fine. This is what success looks like. You build a good thing, other teams want your people, and you keep building.
Holmes has shown he can replace good coaches with good coaches. Morton came and went in one year, but the offense didn’t skip a beat in terms of talent acquisition and development. Now we get to see if Kafka can help take Jared Goff and this passing game to another level.
It’s a good problem to have, really. The Lions are developing coaches other teams want to poach. After decades of being the place where careers went to die, we’re now the place where careers get launched. Hell of a turnaround.
Think Kafka will be the next Lions coordinator to get a head coaching gig, or is this just another coaching carousel tease? Drop your prediction below.
