Titans open to having Mariota involved in coaching search

By foxsports
Published

As the Tennessee Titans search for a new head coach, team president Steve Underwood said rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota could be involved in the process.

Tennessee fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt in November after a 1-6 start to the season, with Mike Mularkey taking over for the final nine games. Underwood said Mariota's input could be useful as the team determines who to hire next.

Via Tennessee's official website:

“I think it would be a good idea for him to know who we have, sort of, narrowed the search to when we get to that point, yes,’’ Underwood said. “Like with anything else, I think we would at least like for him to know and have his view of those people. I think that would be important.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that we’d be guided by one person’s opinion, just as more than one person helped assemble our list. But I think that having his general view of someone, yes, I think that would be important.”

For his part, Mariota told reporters earlier this week that while retaining Mularkey would offer the benefit of keeping the same offense in place for another year, he's on board with any decision.

“Whatever they decide to do, I will full-heartedly support it and get ready for next season,’’ Mariota said. “It would help to have the same system in place, but whatever they decide to do, I will be prepared and ready for it.”

The second overall pick in the 2015 draft, Mariota started 12 games this season, throwing 19 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He missed four games, including the final two weeks of the season. with a pair of knee injuries.