Mike Mularkey - Pro Football Rumors

Titans To Interview Ray Horton For HC Job

January 15th, 2016 at 4:54pm CST by Luke Adams

3:54pm: The Titans have confirmed that their interviews with Austin and Mularkey have been completed. Horton will be the fourth candidate to formally speak to the team about the job.

4:11pm: Mike Mularkey isn’t the only in-house candidate for the Titans’ permanent head coaching job. According to Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Tennessee defensive coordinator Ray Horton is scheduled to interview for the club’s head coaching vacancy on Saturday.

Horton is expected to become either the third or fourth candidate to formally interview for the Titans’ job. The club confirmed that it met with Jaguars assistant head coach Doug Marrone on Thursday to discuss the head coaching job, and Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin was scheduled to meet with the team today. Mularkey, who is considered the front-runner, was also expected to sit down for an interview at some point this week.

In addition to those candidates, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has been mentioned as a possible target for new Titans GM Jon Robinson. However, he and other coaches on active playoff teams aren’t eligible to interview this week.

Horton, who served as the defensive coordinator in Arizona and Cleveland prior to joining the Titans, has reportedly received interest from the Browns for their defensive coordinator job under new head coach Hue Jackson.

While the Titans will have the first overall pick this year after finishing with a league-worst 2-14 record, Horton’s defense shouldn’t bear the brunt of the blame for the team’s poor showing. The Titans’ average of 342.2 yards per game placed them 12th in the NFL, while their 229.9 passing yards allowed per game placed seventh in the league.

Titans Hire Jon Robinson As GM

January 14th, 2016 at 7:28pm CST by Zachary Links

7:28pm: The Titans have officially announced the hiring of Robinson as their new general manager.

“As we visited with Jon and researched his career, his proven track record for scouting talent, leadership skills, and ability to build relationships make him an ideal candidate to lead our football operation,” controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. “Jon is a proud Tennessean who is excited to be coming home, and we look forward to the future of our football team under his leadership.”

8:51am: The Titans are set to hire Jon Robinson as their GM, as Terry McCormick of Cover32 reports. Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) first ID’d Robinson as the frontrunner for the job. An announcement finalizing his appointment could come as soon as today, per La Canfora.

Robinson spent the bulk of his career with the Patriots, where he worked with Buccaneers GM Jason Licht. It was Licht who later brought Robinson to Tampa. Robinson, a Union City, Tenn., native, was mentioned as a potential candidate for the job shortly after Ruston Webster was let go. This time last year, Robinson was a candidate for the Jets’ GM vacancy, a job that ultimately went to former Texans scouting director Mike Maccagnan.

If the Titans do go ahead and hire Robinson, the ex-Bucs exec may tap Josh McDaniels as his head coach, Shalise Manza Young of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter) hears. The Patriots offensive coordinator, who has been connected to multiple openings this offseason, reportedly has interest in the Titans job. McDaniels, 39, has been the the Patriots’ OC since 2012 and one has to imagine that he would be anxious to have Marcus Mariota as his quarterback. Meanwhile, McCormick (on Twitter) believes that all signs still point to Mike Mularkey being retained as head coach.

Webster joined the Titans in 2010 as VP of player personnel and was elevated to the GM job two seasons later. The team’s 18-46 record during his tenure is tied for the second worst in the NFL.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Latest On Titans, Mike Mularkey

January 14th, 2016 at 10:36am CST by Zachary Links

The Titans have given interim head coach Mike Mularkey strong indications that he will be taking over as head coach, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Still, the Titans will continue to interview candidates. In addition to Mularkey, the Titans will also talk with Teryl Austin and Doug Marrone this week (link).

With Jon Robinson set to take over as GM, there have been conflicting reports about what the Titans will do at head coach. Shalise Manza Young of Yahoo Sports reported that the ex-Bucs exec will tap Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as his head coach. Meanwhile, Terry McCormick of Cover32 indicated that Mularkey was likely to be retained as head coach. Right now, it would appear that Mularkey is the frontrunner for the post, though the team will still meet with other candidates. Ed Werder of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears that Robinson was given the job, in part, because he was willing to consider Mularkey as his head coach. Still, Werder adds, he has a history with McDaniels.

In 2015, the Titans sunk to a 3-13 record, despite rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota serving as a distinct bright spot. In November, the Titans canned Ken Whisenhunt and appointed Mularkey as the team’s interim coach. Mularkey previously served as Tennessee’s assistant head coach and tight ends coach. The veteran coach has a pair of head coaching jobs on his resume, having held the role in Buffalo in 2004 and 2005, then again in Jacksonville in 2012.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

South Notes: Tillman, Titans, Hasselbeck

January 12th, 2016 at 2:42pm CST by Luke Adams

Panthers cornerback Charles Tillman will have ACL surgery on Wednesday, according to Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer (on Twitter). Tillman is, of course, sidelined for the playoffs and, at this time, he has not decided about his football future. Tillman, who turns 35 in February, had a nice bounce-back season in Carolina this year after playing in just 10 total games for the Bears in 2013 and 2014.

Let’s round up a few more items from out of the NFL’s South divisions….

Multiple Titans GM candidates, if they were hired, would choose against retaining Mike Mularkey as head coach, a source with knowledge of the team’s interview process told Jason Wolf of The Tennessean.
Matt Hasselbeck will wait a few weeks before making a final decision on whether or not to retire, tweets Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. Hasselbeck’s contract with the Colts is set to expire, so he’ll have to sign a new deal with Indianapolis or another team if he intends to continue his playing career.
On the heels of a five-turnover performance by Brian Hoyer in the game that eliminated the Texans from the postseason, GM Rick Smith and head coach Bill O’Brien recognize that finding a “big-time quarterback like many of the other playoff teams” is the top priority for the franchise, says John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.
Saints general manager Mickey Loomis has exerted greater control of the New Orleans Pelicans recently, but that’s only temporary, with Tom Benson‘s NBA team expected to bring in Joe Dumars to run the front office. Check out our sister site, Hoops Rumors, for the latest on Loomis’ involvement with the Pelicans.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Titans To Interview Mularkey, Marrone

January 11th, 2016 at 6:30pm CST by Zachary Links

The Titans plan to interview interim coach Mike Mularkey late this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The interview will likely take place on Thursday, says Rapoport, who adds that Mularkey is still the clear front-runner for the job. Ex-Bills head coach Doug Marrone could also get an interview towards the end of the week, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com tweets.

So far, former Lions head coach Jim Schwartz and former Falcons head coach Mike Smith have been mentioned as candidates. Ex-Eagles head coach Chip Kelly and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels also reportedly have interest in the job. Still, Mularkey, Marrone, and Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin are the only candidates known to have interviews on the docket.

In 2015, the Titans sunk to a 3-13 record, despite rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota serving as a distinct bright spot. In November, the Titans canned Ken Whisenhunt and appointed Mularkey as the team’s interim coach. Mularkey previously served as Tennessee’s assistant head coach and tight ends coach. The veteran coach has a pair of head coaching jobs on his resume, having held the role in Buffalo in 2004 and 2005, then again in Jacksonville in 2012.

Marrone, who led the Bills to a 9-7 record in 2014, narrowly missing a playoff spot, opted out of his contract following the team’s final regular season game. Marrone’s agreement with the Bills allowed him to receive his full $4MM salary for 2015 despite the fact that he’s no longer coaching the team. In January of 2015, Marrone agreed to sign on as the Jaguars’ offensive line coach. Now, he’s eyeing a head coaching gig for 2016.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Extra Points: Dolphins, Gruden, Browns, Titans

January 7th, 2016 at 9:22pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

As the Dolphins search for their next head coach, the areas they’re prioritizing when talking to candidates are quarterback and defense, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Dolphins brass wants to hear from prospective head coaches how they plan to help the two improve after an up-and-down fourth season from Ryan Tannehill and a year in which the defense finished 25th overall.

Further, per Salguero, interim head coach Dan Campbell‘s only chance to get a promotion to the full-time role is if he presents Miami’s hierarchy with two proven coordinators willing to join his staff. Whether it’s Campbell or someone else, the Dolphins want a coach who has real solutions to repair their problems on both sides of the ball.

Titans CEO On GM Search, Coaching Search

January 4th, 2016 at 3:46pm CST by Zachary Links

The latest on the Titans as they seek a new GM to replace Ruston Webster and examine their head coaching job, which may or may not be filled by interim coach Mike Mularkey:

Titans CEO Steve Underwood says that over a dozen candidates – names people “would know” – have asked about interviewing for the team’s GM job, Paul Kuharsky of ESPN.com tweets. He added that the club has multiple in-house candidates for both the team’s coaching gig and the GM vacancy (link).
Underwood says the Titans will not consider a head coach/GM in one role, a la Chip Kelly (Twitter link via Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com).
Underwood said he has 14 GM finalists but he may not interview all of them, McCormick tweets.
The CEO said there were 155 coaching candidates after Ken Whisenhunt was fired and he’s trimming that list down now (link).
The CEO said that Amy Adams Strunk and Kenneth Adams will join him in the interview process, along with Vin Marino, Jim Wyatt of The Tenneseean tweets.
The team has never been for sale and is not for sale now, Underwood claims (link).

Titans Part Ways With GM Ruston Webster

January 4th, 2016 at 11:23am CST by Luke Adams

The Titans will not renew the contract of general manager Ruston Webster, the team announced today in a press release. Tennessee will begin conducting searches for a new GM as well as a head coach, according to the team. Interim head coach Mike Mularkey will be among the candidates considered for the coaching vacancy, and will get an interview as part of the search process.

While Webster is no longer in the mix, and Mularkey’s future with the organization is uncertain, the Titans announced that Steve Underwood will serve as the club’s president and CEO on a permanent basis, with the interim tag removed from his title.

“Today, I am glad to announce that Steve Underwood will be continuing in his role as our president and chief executive officer on a permanent basis,” said Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk in a statement. “I have had ongoing discussions with Steve on this issue for a while, and I feel his leadership is vital in order to move us forward. He has brought much-needed stability to our organization, and I look forward to progress that will be made under his leadership.”

Underwood will be leading the Titans’ dual searches for a GM and a head coach, while vice president of football administration Vin Marino will oversee the team’s football operations until a permanent GM is hired.

According to Albert Breer of the NFL Network (Twitter links), Titans college director Blake Beddingfield is worth keeping an eye on, since he’s highly regarded within the organization, and took on an increased role when Lake Dawson was let go. Breer adds that Buccaneers executive Jon Robinson, a Tennessee native, may also be a candidate for the Titans’ GM role.

As for Mularkey, multiple reports earlier today hinted that he may receive stronger consideration for the permanent head coaching position than initially expected. However, if the Titans decide to hire a general manager first, particularly one from outside the organization, that new GM may want to bring in his own head coach rather than sticking with Mularkey.

King’s Latest: Mularkey, Manziel, Bradford

January 4th, 2016 at 9:52am CST by Luke Adams

Even though Mike Mularkey is technically the Titans‘ interim head coach, rather than the team’s permanent solution, that doesn’t necessarily mean the club will conduct a full-fledged coaching search. According to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com, the Titans have yet to reach out to any top outside coaching candidates, even as other teams begin to schedule and conduct interviews.

There has been a little more buzz lately suggesting that the Titans are seriously considering sticking with Mularkey, and in his latest Monday Morning Quarterback column, Peter King of TheMMQB.com suggests that Mularkey looks safer than anticipated. Tennessee has yet to announce any sort of decision yet, but we should find out soon whether the club intends to interview outside candidates or simply move forward with Mularkey.

Here are a few more noteworthy tidbits from King’s latest MMQB:

According to King, the Browns don’t want Johnny Manziel anymore, “but won’t say so for fear of eliminating [his] trade value.” While King doesn’t expect Manziel to play another snap for Cleveland, it’s worth noting that a new head coach and general manager may feel differently about the former first-round pick.
Sam Bradford won’t be motivated to sign with the Eagles over any other team in free agency, says King. If the Eagles don’t use their franchise tag on Bradford, it sounds like the former first overall pick will reach the open market, since agent Tom Condon likes to maximize his client’s earnings, and Bradford “isn’t crazy about Philadelphia” as a city, according to King.
Doug Marrone‘s interview for the Browns‘ head coaching job will take place on Tuesday, per King. The former Bills head coach also reportedly has an interview lined up with the Dolphins.

Coaching Rumors: Payton, Browns, Titans, Kelly

January 3rd, 2016 at 8:53pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Eagles will pursue head coach Sean Payton if he and the Saints agree to part ways Monday, sources tell Paul Domowitch of Philly.com (Twitter link). Payton is under contract for two more years in New Orleans, which might present a problem for the Eagles, as Darin Gantt of Pro Football Talk writes. The Saints will want compensation for Payton, possibly in the form of a second-round pick, and the Eagles don’t have one this year.

More coaching rumors from around the NFL:

In addition to the previously reported Teryl Austin and Adam Gase (links: 1; 2), the Browns are also requesting an interview with Jacksonville assistant Doug Marrone, per CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (Twitter link).
The presence of quarterback Marcus Mariota might not be enough to make the Titans’ head coaching job appealing to potential candidates, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Concerns over a lack of stability with respect to the franchise’s ownership could ultimately lead to the promotion of interim head coach Mike Mularkey to the full-time role.
Two college head coaches, Jim Mora Jr. (UCLA) and Kevin Sumlin (Texas A&M), are hoping to land head coaching jobs in the pros, tweets Michael Silver of NFL.com. Mora was previously at the helm in Atlanta (2004-06) and Seattle (’09), going a combined 31-33 with one playoff appearance.
Chip Kelly isn’t a lock to get another head coaching job this offseason, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio writes that some teams might be hesitant to give Kelly a shot because of a fear that he’d eventually try to parlay his role as a head coach into that of a football czar, too, as he did in Philadelphia.