New York Giants coordinators get head-coaching opportunities in all-star games

Mike Kafka, Shane Bowen will run their own teams in draft showcases

New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen will heave head-coaching roles in upcoming college all-star showcase games.

Kafka will be the head coach for the National Team at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Bowen will coach the West squad in the East-West Shrine Game, a team that will include Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.

This is the second consecutive season in which Kafka has been a head coach for one of the all-star games. He coached the West team in the Shrine Game a year ago.

“It’s an honor to be selected as one of the head coaches for the Senior Bowl!” Kafka said in a statement released by the team. “I look forward to getting to know some of the best college athletes in the country both on and off the field, as well as getting to work with a variety of talented coaches from around the NFL.”

Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy praised Kafka, who has gotten NFL head-coaching interviews in each of the last three offseasons, as a future head coach.

“Mike Kafka has already had numerous head coaching interviews over the past couple hiring cycles and many people I’ve talked to around the league believe it’s only a matter time before he gets one of those jobs,” he said.

Giants running backs coach Joel Thomas will be the offensive coordinator for the American team in the Senior Bowl, an opportunity for the veteran running backs coach to call plays.