Titans begin coaching search
The Tennessee Titans kicked off their search for a new head coach by interviewing Houston defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel.
The Titans announced they concluded the interview early Thursday afternoon.
Tennessee is looking to replace Mike Mularkey, fired Monday after he went 21-22 and won the franchise’s first playoff game in 14 years.
Vrabel, 42, has never been a head coach at any level. He is coming off his first season as defensive coordinator for the Texans.
Vrabel played 14 years in the NFL with Pittsburgh, New England where he won three Super Bowl titles and Kansas City before going into coaching. He started coaching in 2011 at his alma mater, Ohio State. He coached linebackers and defensive linemen.
Steelers hire new offensive coordinator
Randy Fichtner is the Pittsburgh Steelers new offensive coordinator.
Fichtner replaces Todd Haley, who was not retained following Pittsburgh’s divisional round playoff loss to Jacksonville.
Fichtner has been an assistant with Pittsburgh since 2007 and spent the past eight seasons as quarterbacks coach, where he developed a strong rapport with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Fichtner will take over an offense that ranked third or better in total yards in three of the past four seasons and features Roethlisberger, All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown and All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell.
Atlanta will stick with Sarkasian
Steve Sarkasian will return as the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator despite a decline in production in his debut 2017 season.
Sarkasian has been the target of criticism as the Falcons, who lost at Philadelphia in the divisional round of the playoffs last week, fell short of a return trip to the Super Bowl.
Coach Dan Quinn announced Thursday that Sarkasian will return in 2018.
After leading the league in scoring in 2016, the Falcons fell to 15th this season . Quinn said Sarkasian doesn’t deserve the full blame for the offense’s struggles.
Tom Cable back on Radiers’ staff
Former Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable is back on the staff to coach the offensive line.
The team made the announcement that Cable was rejoining the organization as fellow returning head coach Jon Gruden filled out his coaching staff Thursday with the addition of 13 assistants.
The 53-year-old Cable coached the Raiders for three seasons from 2008-10 and finished with a record of 17-27. He had been the assistant head coach and offensive line coach with the Seattle Seahawks since 2011 until his firing last week from Pete Carroll’s staff.
FROM WIRE REPORTS