Mike Mularkey’s Parting Shot: A Prankster’s Farewell to the NFL Coaching Carousel
The unforgiving landscape of the National Football League (NFL) often chews up and spits out head coaches with ruthless efficiency. Wins and losses, playoff appearances, and the ever-fickle favor of team ownership determine their fate. For Mike Mularkey, his tenure as head coach of the Tennessee Titans ended abruptly after the 2017 season, leaving him with a 20-21 record, a single playoff berth, and a memorable parting shot. Instead of succumbing to the bitterness of dismissal, Mularkey orchestrated a prank that briefly fooled the entire NFL world and left his soon-to-be former employers momentarily bewildered.
Mularkey’s story, recounted on the "Bussin’ With The Boys" podcast, reveals a man who, despite facing the imminent end of his Titans career, maintained a sense of humor and a desire to leave a lasting impression. The scene was set following a playoff loss to the New England Patriots in January 2018. Knowing his dismissal was inevitable, Mularkey contacted NFL insider Ian Rapoport with a fabricated scoop. He informed Rapoport that he was about to receive a new contract extension, a piece of information that quickly spread throughout the media, momentarily painting a picture of stability and success where termination loomed.
The prank, as Mularkey confessed, was aimed squarely at the Titans’ owner and general manager, who he believed were orchestrating his exit. The thought of their momentarily joyous expressions, fueled by the false report of his continued employment, provided Mularkey with a sense of mischievous satisfaction. This small act of defiance, executed with impeccable timing, allowed him to control the narrative, even as his coaching tenure in Tennessee neared its end. The revelation on the podcast, delivered with a touch of self-deprecating humor, elicited laughter and admiration from the hosts, highlighting the unusual nature of a coach turning the tables on the often-opaque world of NFL personnel decisions.
Mularkey’s coaching career, spanning several teams and roles, began with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and included stints with the Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Jacksonville Jaguars. He served as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons before taking the helm in Tennessee, where his time was marked by a mix of promise and disappointment. The 2017 season, culminating in a playoff appearance and the subsequent loss to the Patriots, proved to be his final act as a head coach in the league. Following his departure from the Titans, he returned to the Falcons as a tight ends coach in 2019, a position that marked his last involvement in professional football to date.
The incident involving the false contract report underscores the precarious nature of NFL coaching positions. The constant pressure to win, coupled with the whims of team ownership, can create an environment where even moderate success doesn’t guarantee job security. Mularkey’s story provides a unique glimpse into the human side of these high-stakes situations, where humor and a bit of mischief can serve as a coping mechanism in the face of professional adversity.
While his NFL coaching career may be over, Mularkey’s prank serves as a memorable footnote, a testament to his ability to find humor and agency in a situation where most would likely succumb to frustration and disappointment. It’s a reminder that even in the cutthroat world of professional sports, there’s always room for a well-timed joke, even if it’s at the expense of those who hold the power to hire and fire. His story resonates with anyone who has faced a difficult professional transition, offering a lighthearted example of how to exit with grace, humor, and a touch of playful rebellion.