Fansided

Mike Mularkey has legitimate chance to be retained with Titans

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Dec 27, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans interim head coach Mike Mularkey leaves the field after a loss against the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium. The Texans won 34-6. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans interim head coach Mike Mularkey leaves the field after a loss against the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium. The Texans won 34-6. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mike Mularkey has a good chance of landing the Tennessee Titans’ head coaching role on a permanent basis.

NFL coaches’ jobs are far from safe in this day and age. Ken Whisenhunt bore the brunt of this after only seven games. Since then, it has been Mike Mularkey in charge, and well, the Titans’ fortunes haven’t altered all that much, with the team confirming their number one draft pick after the Week 17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

The Titans finished 2-7 under Mularkey. Moreover, the stats weren’t much different from Ken Whisenhunt’s tenure. The Titans scored 1.4 more points per contest under Mularkey, but allowed 6.6 more points per game while retaining their -7 turnover differential under each coach. It has been a season to forget for the Titans, but could be an off season to remember. They have the first pick of the draft and will have to hire a new head coach. It’s all change in Tennessee.

Speaking to NFL Network, Ian Rapoport stated:

"“From what I am told, there is a real and legitimate chance that Mike Mularkey, who has been the interim coach, gets the full-time job, regardless of what they do with general manager Ruston Webster and CEO Steve Underwood. Mularkey is well-liked by the Adams family, that is one thing, and they really appreciate the kind of work he’s done with Marcus Mariota. They’ve lost a couple games at the end of the season, but all of that was without their rookie quarterback.”"

It will be interesting to see what direction the Titans turn in, but the effect the new coach has on Marcus Mariota will be a major factor. Chip Kelly may well be a name that gets banded around. However, Mularkey is not out of contention just yet.

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