New York Giants interim coach Mike Kafka shared a deeply emotional and honest revelation after his team’s 34-27 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions — explaining why Dexter Lawrence, the defensive anchor, wasn’t on the field in OT, when his presence was needed most.
According to Kafka, Lawrence was “nicked up” early in the game, dealing with an injury that worsened as the game wore on. Instead of risking him fully, the coaching staff made a tough call: limit his snaps, and use him in critical third-down pass-rush situations. It wasn’t because they didn’t trust him — it was because they wanted to maximize his impact without pushing him into a place where he could hurt himself even more.
But the injury wasn’t just physical. Kafka revealed that Lawrence was visibly emotional on the sideline, saying he was “in tears … just wanting to be out there with the players.” He’d been battling all game — giving as much as he could — and the decision to limit him came from a place of respect and strategy, not weakness.
Kafka said if the drive in OT had continued, Lawrence would have come back in. “Absolutely,” he said. But with the way the game unfolded, and with his injury flaring up in the fourth quarter, they made the hard choice to hold him back.
Despite the optics — and the heartbreak — Kafka stood by his decision. He lauded Lawrence’s toughness, honesty, and willingness to grind through pain. “Hats off to Dexter for toughing it out and working through that,” Kafka said.
In a league where accountability and sacrifice are everything, Kafka’s comments shed light on a side of football fans don’t always see: sometimes playing smart means knowing when someone’s body is breaking, even if their heart still wants to fight.
Giants Coach Says Lawrence Was in Tears on Sideline During Lions Overtime: ‘He Got Nicked’
