/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tbt/SNLTIIBWRVG4HH2XQ6HEI5HKTU.jpg "Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs drills with coach Mike Kafka during practice on Jan. 29, 2020, in Davie ahead of Super Bowl 54 last season.")
Although much of the NFL’s future-head-coach focus has been on Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, there’s another offensive assistant on Kansas City’s staff with the potential to be leading an NFL team soon:
Former Bucs quarterback Mike Kafka.
“He’s just getting started in this thing,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said.
Kafka, 33, bounced around the league for six years as a backup quarterback. He spent 2014 with the Bucs behind Josh McCown and Mike Glennon but did not appear in a game.
After his playing career ended, Kafka got into coaching — first as an offensive graduate assistant at Northwestern and then with the Chiefs. He quickly rose from quality control coach to quarterbacks coach and now quarterbacks coach/passing coordinator.
His work with superstar Patrick Mahomes attracted head-coaching interest this offseason.
“And rightly so,” Reid said. “I know his future is bright.”
• • •
Tampa Bay Times Super Bowl 55 coverage
TIMELINE: How the Bucs and Tampa converged for Super Bowl 55
ATTENTION SUPER BOWL VISITORS: Here’s our guide to Tampa Bay’s socially distanced attractions
PARTY PLANNING IN A PANDEMIC: How to host a safe Super Bowl party
FANS IN TAMPA: A first look inside the Super Bowl Experience in Tampa
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