National Football League

Titans hire Mike Mularkey as tight ends coach

Published Jan. 22, 2014 4:53 p.m. ET

foxsports

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans have hired former Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills head coach Mike Mularkey as tight ends coach on Ken Whisenhunt's staff.

Mularkey coached the Jaguars to a 2-14 record in 2012 and was fired at the end of the season. He also went 14-18 as Buffalo's coach in 2004-05. Mularkey and Whisenhunt previously worked together as assistants with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"I am excited to back in the league," Mularkey said Wednesday in a team release announcing the hire. "I took some time off for family time. I got a chance to do some things with them, which I haven't gotten to do over the last 20 years of coaching. I am definitely excited to get back and excited to get back with Ken. We go way back in our relationship, back to when we were players in the NFL and even to college when he was at Georgia Tech and I was at Florida."

Mularkey worked with the Steelers from 1996-2003 and spent his last three years in Pittsburgh as offensive coordinator. He spent two years with the Miami Dolphins as offensive coordinator in 2006 and tight ends coach in 2007. Mularkey was the Atlanta Falcons' offensive coordinator from 2008-11.

The Falcons went 43-21 during Mularkey's time in Atlanta.

"Mike brings a wealth of experience, both as a coordinator and a head coach," Whisenhunt said in a release. "Selfishly, for me, he brings a lot to the table, having been in this situation before. There are things that I will use him for moving forward that will help us a team. He has had a lot of success in this league and we are lucky to have him."

Mularkey played nine seasons in the NFL as a tight end with the Minnesota Vikings and Steelers. He caught 102 passes for 1,222 yards in 114 career games.

Mularkey began his coaching career as an offensive line coach for Concordia College. He worked with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a quality control coach in 1994 and a tight ends coach in 1995.

"As a coach, I am diligent about the details of every little thing," Mularkey said. "I am very big into making sure my guys are prepared and I really like them to know what is going to happen before it happens. With my background and knowledge as a player and coach, I can be a resource. I do love what I do and they will see that from me."