The Kansas City Chiefs’ reunion hopes with Mike Kafka took a major hit as the Philadelphia Eagles interviewed their former fourth-round draft pick this week, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Kafka is one of several candidates to replace former offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo in Philly.

The Eagles’ ties are strong with Kafka. Not only was Philadelphia the longest tenure he had in his journeyman NFL career, but he may have a bone to pick with New York after he was set up for failure and not considered much for their opening.

That’s a shame for the Chiefs, who need a Matt Nagy replacement ASAP. Nagy is reportedly interviewing a second time with the Tennessee Titans, per NFL insider Adam Schefter, who are seemingly equally as interested in Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.

Brian Daboll Could Be Chiefs’ Best Mike Kafka Backup Plan

As much as some Chiefs fans would love to see Kafka’s familiar face back in town, it’s growing increasingly possible that it won’t be in the cards. Having said that, he isn’t the only former Kansas City coach who makes sense for next season’s OC position.

Although he’s coming off a firing as the Giants’ head coach, Brian Daboll wouldn’t be able to find a better landing spot than Kansas City. The pressure is lower in the City of Fountains in 2026, before the season even starts, than anywhere else because of Patrick Mahomes’ injury. Mahomes is boldly eyeing a return by Week 1, but even if he does make it back, few Chiefs fans would realistically expect next season to be as all-in as KC is willing to get.

The former Giants HC was the Chiefs’ offensive coordinator for the 2012 season. Daboll was promptly dismissed after Kansas City had the NFL’s worst offense that season; however, he’s since rehabilitated his image due to his work as the Buffalo Bills’ OC (2018 to 2021), as well as when he won the 2022 AP NFL Coach of the Year award.

Daboll probably makes more sense for the Philadelphia Eagles, with Jalen Hurts already in tow, but the former Nick Saban underling at Alabama has already hit big with Mahomes’ chief rival, Josh Allen, on the Bills. Working with Mahomes would offer Daboll many of the same skills that Allen did.

Daboll will surely get interviews at most openings, but could have his pick of the litter. Few teams have more to offer than a healthy Mahomes, and Daboll, or whoever replaces Nagy, may have something close to that sooner than later should they sign up for the Kingdom.

In other words, it won’t be the end of the world if Kafka doesn’t make his way back to K.C. this offseason.