When the 2025 Senior Bowl kicks off in a few short weeks in Mobile, the Giants will be represented on both coaching staffs.
The Senior Bowl, which will be played Saturday, Feb. 1, announced the coaches for this year's edition of the college football all-star game. Two members of the Giants – offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and running backs coach Joel Thomas – will serve on the coaching staffs. Kafka will be the head coach of the National Team, while Thomas will coordinate the offense for the American Team.
"It's an honor to be selected as one of the head coaches for the Senior Bowl!" Kafka said in a statement. "I look forward to getting to know some of the best college athletes in the country both on and off the field, as well as getting to work with a variety of talented coaches from around the NFL."
This is the third year the Senior Bowl implemented a "Coach Up" format where coordinators and assistant coaches are placed into elevated or different roles from the ones they currently hold with their respective clubs. Head coaches and general managers from all non-playoff teams and Wild Card round participants had the opportunity to nominate assistant coaches, and those candidates were then selected by a group comprised of league office executives and representatives from the General Managers Advisory Committee.
Cleveland Browns assistant head coach / special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone will be the head coach for the American Team.
"We're excited to be getting two outstanding coaches with such great reputations leading our teams this year," Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy said in Wednesday's press release. "I was part of the Patriots scouting staff that drafted Bubba Ventrone back in 2005 so I know how smart and competitive he is. Mike Kafka has already had numerous head coaching interviews over the past couple hiring cycles and many people I've talked to around the league believe it's only a matter time before he gets one of those jobs. Our players will leave Mobile as better players than when they arrived after spending the week with these two men and their respective staffs."
"Mike deserves the opportunity he has as one of the head coaches in this year's Senior Bowl," Giants head coach Brian Daboll said in a statement. "His experience as a player and coach is invaluable to these young men who will soon be professional players. He is an exceptional coach and teacher and will serve as a resource for everyone involved throughout the week."
This is the second straight year the Giants have had representatives on the Senior Bowl coaching staffs. Last year, quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney and assistant special teams coach Mike Adams both served as coordinators.
It is also the second consecutive year Kafka will coach at one of the collegiate all-star games. The Giants' offensive coordinator served as head coach of the West Team at the 99th annual East-West Shrine Bowl last year.
View photos of every NFL player selected with the third overall pick since the first draft in 1936.
QB Drake Maye - New England Patriots (2024)
DE Will Anderson Jr. - Houston Texans (2023)
CB Derek Stingley Jr. - Houston Texans (2022)
QB Trey Lance - San Francisco 49ers (2021)
CB Jeff Okudah - Detroit Lions (2020)
DT Quinnen Williams - New York Jets (2019)
QB Sam Darnold - New York Jets (2018)
DE Solomon Thomas - San Francisco 49ers (2017)
DE Joey Bosa - San Diego Chargers (2016)
DE Dante Fowler Jr. - Jacksonville Jaguars (2015)
QB Blake Bortles - Jacksonville Jaguars (2014)
DE Dion Jordan - Miami Dolphins (2013)
RB Trent Richardson - Cleveland Browns (2012)
DT Marcell Dareus - Buffalo Bills (2011)
DT Gerald McCoy - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2010)
DE Tyson Jackson - Kansas City Chiefs (2009)
QB Matt Ryan - Atlanta Falcons (2008)
T Joe Thomas - Cleveland Browns (2007)
QB Vince Young - Tennessee Titans (2006)
WR Braylon Edwards - Cleveland Browns (2005)
WR Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona Cardinals (2004)
WR Andre Johnson - Houston Texans (2003)
QB Joey Harrington - Detroit Lions (2002)
DT Gerard Warren - Cleveland Browns (2001)
T Chris Samuels - Washington Redskins (2000)
QB Akili Smith - Cincinnati Bengals (1999)
DE Andre Wadsworth - Arizona Cardinals (1998)
CB Shawn Springs - Seattle Seahawks (1997)
DE Simeon Rice - Arizona Cardinals (1996)
QB Steve McNair - Houston Oilers (1995)
QB Heath Shuler - Washington Redskins (1994)
RB Garrison Hearst - Phoenix Cardinals (1993)
DT Sean Gilbert - Los Angeles Rams (1992)
CB Bruce Pickens - Atlanta Falcons (1991)
DT Cortez Kennedy - Seattle Seahawks (1990)
RB Barry Sanders - Detroit Lions (1989)
S Bennie Blades - Detroit Lions (1988)
RB Alonzo Highsmith - Houston Oilers (1987)
QB Jim Everett - Houston Oilers (1986)
DT Ray Childress - Houston Oilers (1985)
LB Carl Banks - New York Giants (1984)
RB Curt Warner - Seattle Seahawks (1983)
LB Chip Banks - Cleveland Browns (1982)
RB Freeman McNeil - New York Jets (1981)
T Anthony Munoz - Cincinnati Bengals (1980)
QB Jack Thompson - Cincinnati Bengals (1979)
WR Wes Chandler - New Orleans Saints (1978)
DT Eddie Edwards - Cincinnati Bengals (1977)
RB Chuck Muncie - New Orleans Saints (1976)
G Ken Huff - Baltimore Colts (1975)
G John Hicks - New York Giants (1974)
T Jerry Sisemore - Philadelphia Eagles (1973)
T Lionel Antoine - Chicago Bears (1972)
QB Dan Pastorini - Houston Oilers (1971)
QB Mike Phipps - Cleveland Browns (1970)
RB Leroy Keyes - Philadelphia Eagles (1969)
DE Claude Humphrey - Atlanta Falcons (1968)
QB Steve Spurrier - San Francisco 49ers (1967)
RB Dick Leftridge - Pittsburgh Steelers (1966)
LB Dick Butkus - Chicago Bears (1965)
WR Charley Taylor - Washington Redskins (1964)
DT Jim Dunaway - Minnesota Vikings (1963)
DT Merlin Olsen - Los Angeles Rams (1962)
DT Joe Rutgens - Washington Redskins (1961)
DB Johnny Robinson - Detroit Lions (1960)
DB Billy Stacy - Chicago Cardinals (1959)
LB Dan Currie - Green Bay Packers (1958)
QB John Brodie - San Francisco 49ers (1957)
RB Hopalong Cassady - Detroit Lions (1956)
RB Alan Ameche - Baltimore Colts (1955)
C Art Hunter - Green Bay Packers (1954)
QB Jack Scarbath - Washington Redskins (1953)
RB Ollie Matson - Chicago Cardinals (1952)
QB Y.A. Tittle - San Francisco 49ers (Colts disbanded after 1950 season, the players were made eligible for draft along with college seniors. Tittle was the No. 1 choice - 3rd overall - of 49ers in 1951.)
RB Chuck Hunsinger - Chicago Bears (1950)
RB Doak Walker - New York Bulldogs (1949)
QB Bobby Layne - Chicago Bears (1948)
G Fritz Barzilauskas - Boston Yanks (1947)
FB Doc Blanchard - Pittsburgh Steelers (1946)
HB Joe Renfroe - Boston/Brooklyn Yanks (1945)
HB Creighton Miller - Brooklyn Tigers (1944)
RB Glenn Dobbs - Chicago Cardinals (1943)
RB Pete Kmetovic - Philadelphia Eagles (1942)
RB Norm Standlee - Chicago Bears (1941)
QB Kay Eakin - Pittsburgh Steelers (1940)
RB Parker Hall - Cleveland Rams (1939)
RB Boyd Brumbaugh - Brooklyn Dodgers (1938)
QB Ray Buivid - Chicago Cardinals (1937)
HB Bill Shakespeare - Pittsburgh Pirates (1936)
Below is the list of head coaches and coordinators for the 2025 Senior Bowl. Practices will be held at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama from Tuesday, January 28 to Thursday, January 30. The game will then be held there on Saturday, February 1 at 2:30pm ET on NFL Network. The Giants hold the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which is scheduled for April 24-26 in Green Bay.
American
Head Coach - Cleveland Browns Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone
Offensive Coordinator - New York Giants Running Backs Coach Joel Thomas
Defensive Coordinator - Indianapolis Colts Senior Assistant DL Coach Matt Raich
Special Teams Coordinator - San Francisco 49ers Special Teams Quality Control Coach August Mangin
National
Head Coach - New York Giants Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka
Offensive Coordinator - Green Bay Packers Pass Game Coordinator Jason Vrable
Defensive Coordinator - Cleveland Browns Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire
Special Teams Coordinator - Tennessee Titans Coaching Assistant Perry Carter
Earlier this week week, Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy, along with NFL Network's Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah and Rhett Lewis, revealed the 120+ participants who have accepted their invitations. You can find that full list here.
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