Lions assistant coach to participate in NFL accelerator program

New York Giants Head Coach Mike Kafka, is shown during the fourth quarter, Sunday, January 4, 2026, in East Rutherford. | Kevin R. Wexler-NorthJersey.

com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The NFL accelerator program—an annual summit to help minority coaches gain connections and increase their chances at advancement in the league—is returning after the league ended the program last year. And upon its return next week, there will be a Detroit Lions assistant coach who will participate. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Lions passing game coordinator Mike Kafka will attend the program this upcoming Monday and Tuesday in Orlando, Florida.

Kafka was hired by the Lions this offseason to help replace the void left by the firing of offensive coordinator John Morton. While Drew Petzing earned the offensive coordinator job, Kafka will still be an integral part of Detroit’s offense. Kafka, whose mother is Puerto Rican—therefore qualifying him as a minority under the league’s Rooney Rule—nearly found himself in an NFL job after the 2024 season.

After a couple of strong years as the Giants offensive coordinator, Kafka was a finalist for the Saints head coach job before they eventually landed on Kellen Moore. This isn’t the first time Kafka has participated in the accelerator program. He did so in 2024, as well, and spoke about the value of the program .