Tennessee Titans

Titans players hope Mularkey returns as head coach

Published Jan. 4, 2016 12:14 p.m. ET

foxsports

After guiding the Tennessee Titans to 2-7 record as interim head coach, Mike Mularkey begins the the offseason hoping to land the job on a full-time basis.

Sunday, after the Titans' 30-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, many of his players said they were onboard with the idea, citing the coach's work with the team over the last nine weeks as reason to retain him.

“We know what he is capable of doing, you have seen his days in Atlanta running the offense," Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo said, via the team's official website. "I hope he gets that opportunity. He definitely deserves it, a full season, to implement his coaching style.

“He is a fighter. We work hard for him, and we’re focused and are attentive,’’ Orakpo said. “It didn’t get us a lot of Ws, but we fought for him and will continue to fight for him if he gets the opportunity.”

Mularkey took over for Ken Whisenhunt, who was fired on Nov. 3. After a a win over the New Orleans Saints in Mularkey's first game as interim head coach, the team lost seven of their last eight. Despite the lack of victories, Orakpo and others on the team said they believe things would have been different had Mularkey had the time to make changes his in-season promotion wouldn't allow.

“Coach Mularkey, I feel like if he had an opportunity with a whole year under his belt, and he is the guy, I feel like he could implement things and get us going in the right direction,’’ offensive lineman Byron Bell said. “He is a good football coach, and he knows what it takes to win. I respect coach Mularkey, the way he comes to work every day. He is 100 percent honest with you, and I respect that about him.”

Mularkey previously spent two seasons as head coach with Buffalo Bills and one year as head coach in Jacksonville.