Titans Head Coaching Rumors

Update:

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that DC Ray Horton, who is interviewing for the Titans head coach job on Saturday, is the last candidate scheduled to meet with Tennessee.

Rapoport mentions that the Titans could settle on their next head coach as early as today, and it’s considered Mike Mularkey’s job to lose.

In the event the Titans keep Mularkey in place, Rapoport expects them to sign him to a short-term extension and then hire a new offensive coordinator.

The list of potential candidates for the Titans’ job also includes:

• Jaguars assistant HC Doug Marrone
• Lions DC Teryl Austin
• Patriots OC Josh McDaniels
• Panthers DC Sean McDermott

We’ll have more regarding the Titans’ head-coaching job as the news is available.

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Josina Anderson reports that the Titans will interview defensive coordinator Ray Horton for their head-coaching vacancy on Saturday.

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According to Steve Reed of the Associated Press, the Titans head-coaching job has come down to interim HC Mike Mularkey and Jaguars assistant HC Doug Marrone.

Reed also provides that there is “no known interest” in Panthers DC Sean McDermott.

• Joe Wolf of USA Today reports that new Titans GM Jon Robinson will interview Lions DC Teryl Austin on Friday.
• According to Rapoport, Mularkey has been given “strong indications” that he will be named the team’s head coach.

Patriots OC Josh McDaniels‘ name was floated as someone to watch for the Titans a few weeks ago, but there has been limited buzz since then.

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According to Joe Buscaglia of WKBW Buffalo, the Titans interviewed Jaguars assistant HC Doug Marrone on Thursday regarding their head-coaching vacancy.

Buscaglia also mentions that Tennessee will meet with interim HC Mike Mularkey on Friday, who is rumored to be the favorite to land the position.

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Ian Rapoport reports that new Titans GM Jon Robinson will interview Lions DC Teryl Austin, Jaguars assistant HC Doug Marrone and interim HC Mike Mularkey this week.

According to Rapoport, Mularkey has been given “strong indications” that the job is his, and that’s also the belief of the team’s coaching staff.

• Tom Pelissero reports that Titans’ ownership’s preference is to keep interim HC Mike Mularkey has scared off some GM candidates.

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Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports that the Titans will interview Lions DC Teryl Austin for their head-coaching vacancy on Friday.

• Meanwhile, Adam Caplan reports that the Titans’ interview with Jaguars assistant HC Doug Marrone is expected to take place on Thursday.

Potential candidates for the position include: Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, Mike Smith and Jim Schwartz.

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Despite previous reports that interim HC Mike Mularkey is considered the “clear front-runner” to be the Titans’ head coach, Jason Wolf of the Tennessean reports that multiple GM candidates, if hired, would choose against retaining Mularkey as head coach.

Terry McCormick reports that the Titans interview with Jaguars assistant HC Doug Marrone could take place towards the end of the week.

• Ian Rapoport reports that the Titans are set to interview Lions DC Teryl Austin for their head-coaching vacancy. Tennessee had reportedly been waiting to receive permission before interviewing Austin.
• Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Titans plan to interview interim HC Mike Mularkey later this week with the meeting likely to take place on Thursday.
• Rapoport’s source added that Mularkey is considered the “clear front-runner” for the job.

Tennessee has been focused on lining up executives for their open general manager position, so this if the first we’ve heard regarding their head-coaching vacancy in a few days.

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A high-ranking Titans source explained to Albert Breer that protecting QB Marcus Mariota is a major priority for them after the injuries they’ve sustained at the position in recent years.

“The quarterbacks are getting hit a lot, and it’s exactly what happened last year,” said Breer’s Titans’ source. “We had [Jake] Locker on IR, [Zach] Mettenberger on IR. The quarterbacks were getting crushed. And now, Mariota’s gotten hit a lot. Mettenberger got killed against Houston, he was sacked seven times and there wasn’t any help in protection. … We just got done with Locker, and now we have another, and you have to protect the quarterback. Some of it is the offensive line. Some of it is not.”

With this in mind, Breer mentions that there’s skepticism in Tennessee’s building over the idea of them hiring Chip Kelly to work with his college quarterback.

While Kelly, the Eagles dealt with a number of injuries to quarterback such as Michael Vick, Nick Foles, and Sam Bradford. According to Breer, the Titans see the idea of hiring Kelly as a serious risk, even if it could offer high-end potential.

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Sources tell ESPN’s John Clayton that Patriots OC Josh McDaniels is interested in the Titans’ head coaching position.

McDaniels has been a popular names tied to head-coaching positions in recent years. However, he appears to be being selective taking a job after how things went for him in Denver several years ago.

The Titans’ ownership situation could be a draw back, but they do have a solid young quarterback in place with Marcus Mariota and own the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. They also play in the AFC South, which means it’s at least conceivable that a quick turnaround could happen.

The Titans have already announced that interim HC Mike Mularkey will interview for their job at some point in the near future. There has actually been a good amount of talk that Tennessee could retain Mularkey as their head-coaching, even after they were 2-7 with him at the helm this season.

Beyond that, others have suggested that Chip Kelly, Mike Smith and Jim Schwartz could be other targets for the Titans once they’re ready to begin bringing in candidates for interviews.