Mike Kafka sat down in his office with Giants.com for a conversation about the latest at 1925 Giants Drive. We catch up as he comes off his first victory as interim head coach and now turns his attention to the season finale against the Cowboys.
Q: This is obviously a disappointing season, but have you had a moment to appreciate your first win?
Kafka: Not yet because the season's not done yet. We've got a lot of work to do. At some point we will. At some point we will celebrate the positives and adversity. We'll celebrate that and learn from it and grow. But now is too soon.
Q: What was your first winning postgame locker room experience like?
Kafka: It was awesome. That's what it should look like.
Q: Who was at the game supporting you?
Kafka: I don't want to single anybody out because there were a lot of people supporting me there, people that could make it. People that couldn't make it, they were still supporting me from afar. But it was great to have family there and just feel the love after the game. I felt it, win or loss, but it was just cool because there was a lot of energy in the building and in the locker room. That was really cool to feed off of.
Q: What about your mentors?
Kafka: The same people that reach out after a tough loss are the same people that reach out after a great win. The support and love that I have, I'm lucky to have that from a lot of different people – mentors, family, friends. I'm just really appreciative, and that is what gets you through the ups and downs of a season.
Q: Wan'Dale Robinson is having a career year. You have been here since the day he arrived as a rookie. What do you remember from when he first got here?
Kafka: He was just a sponge in terms of trying to learn and master his craft. He's one of the smartest – if not the smartest guy – I've ever been with and been around in terms of football smart like just understanding space, understanding the game plan, understanding his role. And then he is always wanting more and always asking for more. He's just a guy that loves football, is a great teammate, is pretty much everything you would ask for in terms of a teammate. I know, as a former player, he's a guy I would roll with any day of the week.
Q: He has the stats, but what about the dirty work?
Kafka: He doesn't bat an eye. We ask him to block. We ask him to run off on this route because it's going to affect some underneath coverage. He doesn't think twice. He does it with maximum effort. He does it to the best of his ability. And then when he does have an opportunity to make plays, he goes and makes them. To see that, to see his whole career kind of come together, these last four years come together and have the really cool pinnacle and have the production he has, to me it's just a splash of what he's about and what he can accomplish. I think he's a thousand-yard type of guy that can get it every single season, that can do that every single year. But whatever that role is for him, he's going to do it to the best of his ability. If the opportunity shows up, we know what he can do. We have full confidence in him.
Q: Mike Groh has also been here the whole time as his position coach. What can you say about him this season, considering Malik Nabers went down early in the year?
Kafka: Coach Groh has been a pillar of consistency, not only for the staff but for the players in his room and being able to maximize those guys when we've had injuries. The next man up, getting them prepared and getting them ready to go and play – our offense, we challenge the wide receivers. We put a lot in. We challenge them on a weekly basis, whether it's by formation, whether it's by concept in how we're going to attack a team. These guys are just very prepared, and they go out and do a hell of a job for us. I'm really proud of that receiver room, the leadership in that room, Coach Groh, Wan'Dale, Slay (Darius Slayton), Isaiah (Hodgins), the veterans that have been in that room have done a really nice job.
Click through every 1,000-yard receiving season in Giants history.
Mark Bavaro (1986) – 1,001 receiving yards
WR Wan'Dale Robinson (2025) - 1,014 receiving yards
Plaxico Burress (2007) - 1,025 receiving yards
Lionel Manuel (1988) - 1,029 receiving yards
Homer Jones (1966) - 1,044 receiving yards
Hakeem Nicks (2010) - 1,052 receiving yards
Odell Beckham Jr. (2018) - 1,052 receiving yards
Amani Toomer (2001) - 1,054 receiving yards
Amani Toomer (2003) - 1,057 receiving yards
Homer Jones (1968) - 1,057 receiving yards
Victor Cruz (2012) - 1,092 receiving yards
Amani Toomer (2000) - 1,094 receiving yards
Del Shofner (1961) - 1,125 receiving yards
Del Shofner (1962) - 1,133 receiving yards
Earnest Gray (1983) - 1,139 receiving yards
Del Shofner (1963) - 1,181 receiving yards
Amani Toomer (1999) - 1,183 receiving yards
Hakeem Nicks (2011) - 1,192 receiving yards
Malik Nabers (2024) - 1,204 receiving yards
Homer Jones (1967) - 1,209 receiving yards
Plaxico Burress (2005) - 1,214 receiving yards
Steve Smith (2009) - 1,220 receiving yards
Odell Beckham Jr. (2014) - 1,305 receiving yards
Amani Toomer (2002) - 1,343 receiving yards
Odell Beckham Jr. (2016) - 1,367 receiving yards
Odell Beckham Jr. (2015) - 1,450 receiving yards
Victor Cruz (2011) - 1,536 receiving yards
Q: We're getting to the end of rookie seasons. Marcus Mbow has gotten a lot of action as of late with Andrew Thomas out. What have you seen on film of him at left tackle?
Kafka: Mbow has done a really nice job of stepping in. He's obviously already started games for us in the past, so there was a lot of comfortability there just having him step out there. He's a young player that's growing, that's learning, but you're seeing hm finish. You're seeing some plays that he's making out there that his athletic ability is showing up and his ability to be a factor in the run game. His communication on the edge is important because you need to get this stuff communicated across the line of scrimmage. He's a young player that's continuing to grow, but there's a lot of upside and a lot to be hopeful for and a lot that we're excited about.
Q: How about Darius Alexander on the other side of the line of scrimmage?
Kafka: Same thing. He got another sack. He is taking advantage of his opportunities. That defensive line, I would say, there are people on there that garner attention, so he is taking advantage of his one-on-one matchups. When he does get double-teamed, he is making them pay and creating pressures even though it doesn't show up on the stat sheet.
Q: Abdul Carter is coming on strong. He seemingly received the message and turned the corner. Is that what coaching is all about?
Kafka: I think it's just the natural progression of putting in the hard work. For some, it doesn't always happen that way. Everyone is a little bit different in terms of when you start to stack days. You stack hours. And when you continue to do that over a period of time, you're going to see the results. You've got to believe in your process. You've got to believe that how you're working and how you're preparing is going to help you on game days. I think he is seeing the fruits of that labor. Credit to him for putting in the hours, coming in early. I think he's gained a lot of respect and a lot of trust from not only the coaches but the players as well. He's got to continue to do that. How can he continue to build on what (he's) doing now because next year, next day, next week, next month, it's going to be a different challenge. So, how do you continue to build off the success and things you're doing right now?
Q: I was wondering if you could indulge me. Pressures have become the stat of the year. I never know what to make of them, so I was curious what a head coach and an offensive play-caller makes of them.
Kafka: Anytime you can affect a quarterback in the pass game – pressures, sacks, even just having hands up, creating pressure in the pocket, pushback – that's going to affect him in some way. They keep stats of all that stuff. What is a pressure and what's not a pressure, I couldn't tell you. So, it's up to (them). But people can affect the quarterback in a lot of different ways, even if it's just you put someone on one side of the formation that they've got to utilize a chipper, a jammer, a halfback. That is as much of a disruption as anything because now it's eliminating two or three people from getting out on a route. That helps the back end. Now they've got to cover fewer guys. They've got to cover less space. All of those things can build into pressuring a quarterback or affecting the quarterback, which is all we're really looking for.
Q: You and the players are naturally getting a lot of big-picture questions this week, but you still have a game to play. What is the message?
Kafka: The mission, the messaging, is the same. It's taking it one day at a time, preparing our minds, preparing our bodies to go find a way to get a win. And you just keep it in bite-sized days and keep it in our normal process of first and second down, OK, master that part of the game plan. Then you can move onto the next step, which is the critical situations, third down, short yardage. Master that part of the game plan. Continue to review and get to the red zone, backed-up, four-minute, two-minute, that part of the game plan. Don't get too overextended. Take it each day at a time. Master that particular part of the game plan. Make sure you get questions answered. Make sure we get our adjustments. Make sure we get our keys. Then if we need to make adjustments in-game, now we have some of those things, problem solve and figure it out, then we've got to do that. It all goes back to just mastering our early part of the game plan and mastering your role within it.
Q: Coaches always look at everything as a learning experience. What have you learned about yourself in this role?
Kafka: It's been a great experience. I haven't had a whole lot of time to kind of sit back and think about all that because I'm in my normal routine of planning and getting the team ready and getting our coaches ready and getting them organized.
Q: You're going to be asked that question a lot this week. What is next for Mike Kafka?
Kafka: Next is practice.
View photos of the Giants' rookie class throughout the 2025 season.
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91), OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Brian Burns (0) , DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)G Jon Runyan Jr. (76)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) runs against Denver Broncos defensive end John Franklin-Myers during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Brian Burns (0)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , WR Beaux Collins (81)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6) , TE Theo Johnson (84)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
WR Beaux Collins (81)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
WR Beaux Collins (81)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
New York Giants defensive tackle Darius Alexander (91)
C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), G Jon Runyan Jr. (76), RB Cam Skattebo (44) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)QB Jaxson Dart (6)
WR Beaux Collins (81)
S Tyler Nubin (27), OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
New York Giants guard Marcus Mbow (71)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) and QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91), DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44), C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61), TE Theo Johnson (84)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)C John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44), QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44),QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Brian Burns (0)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86) Goal Line Catch New York Giants vs New England Patriots Preseason Week 3
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Chris Manhertz (85), OL Marcus Mbow (71), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) and OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86) Goal Line Catch New York Giants vs New England Patriots Preseason Week 3
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86) Goal Line Catch New York Giants vs New England Patriots Preseason Week 3
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
OL Marcus Mbow (71)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
WR Beaux Collins (8)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
TE Thomas Fidone II (86)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), CB Cor'Dale Flott (28)
OLB Brian Burns (0) , OLB Abdul Carter (51), DT Darius Alexander (91)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
RB Cam Skattebo (44) and TE Theo Johnson (84)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6), RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6),TE Theo Johnson (84), T Andrew Thomas (78)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) reacts after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Kevin Sabitus via AP)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) celebrates during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
A fan holds up a sign for New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo before an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Giants in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A fan holds up a shirt for New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo before an NFL football game between the Denver Broncos and the Giants in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) looks to pass as Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Allen (99) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos running back RJ Harvey, middle, is tackled by New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter, left, and cornerback Cordale Flott during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo, bottom, scores past Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian (29), cornerback Riley Moss, middle left, and safety Brandon Jones during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) rolls out to pass as Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) applies pressure during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo, bottom, scores against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) reacts during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, right, gestures during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo, middle, runs against the New York Giants during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) reaches for the goal line to score a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Denver Broncos safety Brandon Jones (22) and safety Talanoa Hufanga, middle, break up a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Beaux Collins (81) during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) signs autograph before an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) warms up before an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) joins teammates in huddle during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) looks to pass the ball under pressure form Denver Broncos defensive tackle D.J.Jones (93) an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
RB Cam Skattebo (44)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants' Jaxson Dart, left, and Beaux Collins celebrate after Dart's touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)DB Korie Black (38)CB Deonte Banks (2)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Brian Burns (0)
DT Darius Alexander (91), OLB Abdul Carter (51), OLB Brian Burns (0)
DT Darius Alexander (91), ILB Bobby Okereke (58), LB Swayze Bozeman (54), DL Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (93)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
New York Giants at New England Patriots Week 13,New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51),New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6)
New York Giants at New England Patriots Week 13,New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51), DL Dexter Lawrence II (97)
DT Darius Alexander (91)
QB Jaxson Dart (6)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
OLB Abdul Carter (51)
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