Mike Kafka (Arizona), Wink Martindale (Indianapolis) still in running for head-coaching jobs

Kafka to get second interview with Arizona Cardinals

When the Denver Broncos acquired Sean Payton via trade to be their head coach and the Houston Texans hired DeMeco Ryans, that left only two NFL head-coaching jobs open. It appeared the New York Giants could feel relatively good about their chances to keep both offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale in the fold.

Well … it might still be sweaty palms time for GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll in terms of their hopes for keeping the team’s 2022 coaching staff together.

Kafka to get second interview in Arizona

Kafka has interviewed for four of the five openings that were available in this cycle — Texans, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals. Ian Rapoport reported Saturday evening that Kafka, the 35-year-old who just completed his first year as the Giants’ offensive coordinator, will get a second interview with the Cardinals.

Arizona hired Monti Ossenfort as their general manager in mid-January. The Cardinals have also requested a second interview with Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo for the head-coaching job.

Anarumo was defensive backs coach for the Giants in 2018. He has been Bengals’ defensive coordinator since that time, and interviewed for the Giants’ head-coaching job that went to Daboll last offseason.

Martindale a front-runner in Indianapolis?

The Indianapolis Colts are conducting a lengthy, pain-staking search for a new head coach that coach be headed to a third round of interviews.

Martindale has had two interviews, is still in consideration and is in fact “considered one of the front-runners,” according to Pat Leonard of the Daily News.

The Colts interviewed Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen for a second time Saturday.

In addition to Steichen and Martindale, interim coach Jeff Saturday, Broncos defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, Raiders special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia, Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn have received second interviews.