NFL playoff coach is stunningly out
Despite his team’s embarrassing 35-14 loss to the Patriots Saturday night, it appeared that Titans coach Mike Mularkey was secure heading into next season.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported Sunday that the coach and team were working on a contract extension.
Sources: The #Titans have offered coach Mike Mularkey an extension in the wake of their playoff run. He’s staying.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 15, 2018
That’s what made Monday morning’s news that Mularkey and the Titans are parting ways so shocking.
Titans and head coach Mike Mularkey mutually agreed to part ways this morning, league source tells @FieldYates .
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 15, 2018
Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement on the team’s website that while the team and Mularkey had discussed a contract extension over the weekend, the two parties had different philosophies about the team’s plans going forward.
“In fact, we did discuss extending his future with our team over the past week, but in those discussions about the direction of the team, it became evident that we saw different paths to achieve greater success,” Strunk said.
The Tennessean reports those differences centered around who Mularkey’s assistant coaches would be this season.
“It is certainly unfortunate that we couldn’t find enough common ground,” Strunk said. “I generally believe that continuity is the best path for success, but I also view this as an important moment for our football team as we try to make that next step to sustained success on the field.”
Remarkably, the Titans overcame an 18-point deficit against the Chiefs to pull off one of the more unlikely comebacks in playoff history.
But Saturday night in New England was a different story.
Despite jumping out to a 7-0 leads, the Titans were never in the game after that, losing 35-14.
The Patriots sacked quarterback Marcus Mariota eight times, and Tennessee — which had the second-fewest penalties during the regular season — was penalized 10 times, with several calls allowing New England to keep drives alive.
Despite the debacle, Mularkey was expected to survive.
#Titans GM Jon Robinson and CEO Steve Underwood told coach Mike Mularkey before the game and told him they were extended him and he was their guy. They said they'd get it done after the game. Now this.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 15, 2018
It’s the latest step in a strange coaching career for Mularkey.
The former Steelers tight end posted a winning record his first year in Buffalo, but was fired after his second.
He was just 2-14 at Jacksonville, and was terminated after a single season.
In two years at Tennessee, the Titans were 9-7 both seasons, winning the weak AFC South this year.
Tennessee general manager John Robinson is expected to make a major push for New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who is reportedly set to join Indianapolis once the Patriots’ season concludes.
Robinson was an executive with the Patriots, and obviously got a firsthand look at McDaniels’ work this weekend.
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