NASHVILLE, Tenn -- Titans head coach Mike Mularkey wanted more support from the organization after leading them to their first playoff win since the 2003 season, and on Sunday he got it.
Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk gave Mularkey a vote of confidence, saying in a statement: "Just to eliminate any distractions moving forward, Mike Mularkey is our head coach and will be our head coach moving forward."
Mularkey has been the subject of ominous reports regarding his job security over the last two weeks. He was frustrated that the Titans did nothing to quiet what he called "ridiculous" uncertainty around his job security.
"I haven't had any support to say I was [safe]," Mularkey said Saturday after defeating the Chiefs 22-21 in his first playoff appearance as a head coach. "I just assumed the worst.
"I don't think it's fair to my family. When it has an effect on my family, it has an effect on me. So it had a big effect on me."
Reports of Mularkey's imminent demise -- because of quarterback Marcus Mariota's regression and the team's overall offensive struggles this season -- began weighing on him and his family over the past few weeks. He spent several minutes before the Titans' win over the Chiefs taking pictures and soaking in the moment with his wife, Betsy. He likely wondered at that moment whether this could be his last opportunity to do so as an NFL head coach.
This is also Mularkey's third head coaching job; he was unsuccessful in his first two stops, with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Buffalo Bills. Strunk hired Mularkey before Titans general manager Jon Robinson arrived.
"I regret that outside rumors gained a life of their own," Strunk said. "No one has been a bigger supporter of Mike Mularkey than I have over the last two plus seasons. Mike and Jon have changed the culture of our team and organization and I am so happy we have been able to bring success on the field to our fans."
The Titans have gone 19-14 since Mularkey took over as full-time head coach in 2016. They were 5-27 over the two years prior. Mularkey took Tennessee to the playoffs for the first time in nine years.
Tennessee overcame a 18-point deficit to win at Kansas City, showing many of the characteristics Mularkey preaches. like resiliency and toughness.
Several key Titans players, including Mariota, running back Derrick Henry, tight end Delanie Walker and linebacker Brian Orakpo, raved about the job Mularkey has done as head coach.
"We've had back-to-back winning seasons. We made the playoffs. We won a playoff game," said Orakpo, who played in and won the first playoff game of his nine-year NFL career Saturday. "What more do people want? It's f---ing ridiculous."
Walker added: "I always had faith in Mike. When he was trying to get the job, I was the one that had his back. I wanted him here. I knew his philosophy. I knew what he was going to bring to this team, and you can see it."
The Titans will play at New England Saturday night or at Pittsburgh Sunday afternoon, depending on the result of the Jaguars-Bills wild-card game.
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