Fansided

5 Potential Replacements for Ken Whisenhunt

By John Buhler

Nov 1, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Tennessee Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt looks on from the sideline during the third quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. The Texans defeated the Titans 20-6. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Tennessee Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt looks on from the sideline during the third quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. The Texans defeated the Titans 20-6. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly coaches against the New York Jets during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 27, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly coaches against the New York Jets during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Chip Kelly (Eagles Head Coach) or Pat Shurmur (Eagles Offensive Coordinator)

Would Philadelphia Eagles Head Coach Chip Kelly leave his team after two years to coach his starting quarterback from his days leading the Oregon Ducks? Crazier things have happened. Many thought that Kelly would manipulate the draft board and move up from 2oth to 2nd to grab Mariota in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Oct 26, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Eagles 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Eagles 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Nobody knows Marcus Mariota’s strengths or weaknesses as a quarterback better than the man who got him to commit to Oregon via Honolulu. Chip Kelly wants to go fast on offense, but has not had the right man under center to run his offense effectively the last two seasons in Philadelphia. Kelly could jump ship, no matter how bad of a public relations move it would seem, to coach Mariota again.

If the logistics aren’t there for Chip Kelly to join Marcus Mariota in Nashville, then perhaps Kelly’s offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur could make some sense. Shurmur has been Kelly’s offensive coordinator the last two years and has NFL head coaching experience from his two years with the Cleveland Browns (2011-12).

Not only would Shurmur get to coach Marcus Mariota, he could easily catch many of his son Kyle’s games at Vanderbilt. Kyle Shurmur is now the starting quarterback for the Vanderbilt Commodores under second-year head coach Derek Mason. Having both Shurmurs in the Music City at the same time makes for a great story should it work out.

The connection Chip Kelly has with Marcus Mariota almost seems to make him the obvious replacement for Ken Whisenhunt, but it seems highly unlikely he will run himself out of town just to coach his former quarterback. Relocating from Philadelphia to Nashville feels like a lateral move, at best, for Chip Kelly. Shurmur may only be an offensive coordinator after his rough tenure in Cleveland. However, the Adams family could entertain the idea of brining either man from the City of Brotherly Love to the Music City to become the next head coach of the Tennessee Titans.

Next: Stealing one from the Sneaky Fox

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