Kellen Moore expected to be named head coach by New Orleans
With Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator Kellen Moore expected to be named head coach of the New Orleans Saints, that means Mike Kafka will be back with the New York Giants for a fourth season as offensive coordinator.
Kafka interviewed twice for the Saints’ job, the last head-coaching opening in this hiring cycle, including what he told reporters at the Senior Bowl was a nine-hour in-person interview.
Kafka also had a virtual interview with the Chicago Bears this offseason for the job that went to Ben Johnson.
Kafka, 37, has had interviews for head-coaching jobs in each of the last three offseasons. Last offseason, he had two interviews with the Seattle Seahawks for their vacancy, and one with the Tennessee Titans. After the 2022 season, he interviewed for openings with the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals.
A majority of Giants fans were hoping Kafka would get the Saints’ job because, with grandparents of Puerto Rican descent, Kafka becoming New Orleans head coach would have qualified the Giants for a third-round compensatory selection.
With Kafka returning to New York, the question is whether or not he will return to calling offensive plays. Kafka was the play caller in 2022 when Daniel Jones had his best season and the Giants reached the playoffs, then again in 2023. Head coach Brian Daboll assumed that responsibility in 2023 as the Giants went 3-14.
While the Giants won’t force Daboll to return that job to Kafka, there is internal pressure on Daboll give up that role and return to being a CEO-style head coach.
As for Moore, he cannot officially negotiate a contract or be hired by the Saints until after Sunday evening’s Super Bowl game between the Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
Per insider Adam Schefter, Moore has told people he wants the New Orleans job, and that “the sides are not expected to have any challenges to get a deal done.”
