NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Mike Mularkey is moving forward as the Tennessee Titans coach under a three-year agreement, a league source tells ESPN.com.
That certainly rates as long enough to be able to get the assistant coaches he wants to join the staff in Nashville.
I reported earlier today that Terry Robiskie will be his offensive coordinator. Mularkey said incumbent offensive coordinator Jason Michael -- who had an opportunity to join the Rams -- is now the quarterbacks coach.
At the team's afternoon press conference, Mularkey said that he had a good feeling that assistant head coach/defense Dick LeBeau would be back. LeBeau called the defense after joining the Titans in 2015, working above defensive coordinator Ray Horton.
Horton is under contract through 2016 and said Sunday he was talking with the team about an extension. But a source said the Cleveland Browns asked for and received permission from the Titans to speak with Horton about their coordinator job, and that would amount to a promotion, as he would get signal-calling power back if he joins the Browns.
On Nashville radio show 3HL, Mularkey said that he is meeting with LeBeau Tuesday morning and that if it didn’t work out he would not be married to a 3-4 defense.
LeBeau is not under contract going forward but has said he loves Nashville and would be open to staying if someone wanted him.
One-time Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who lives in Nashville, is a 4-3 coach who would love to work for the team again, but he’s sorting through interest from Cleveland, Philadelphia and Jacksonville.
If he doesn’t have a done deal and LeBeau declines to stick around, Mularkey should call Schwartz immediately.
