Titans GM Jon Robinson: “We felt like we needed to go down a different path.”

Titans GM Jon Robinson faced the media just hours after deciding to part ways with head coach Mike Mularkey. Here was his opening statement.

“After numerous conversations with Amy, we have decided to part ways with Mike Mularkey as our head coach. We would like to thank him for all that he’s done for this team, this community and we wish him the best moving forward. We will begin the search immediately for a new head coach. Our goal remains the same. We are committed to our fans to bring a championship home to our city and this state.

These decisions are never easy, yet Amy and I remain steadfast in the most important thing is the team. Putting our players in position to maximize their ability in all three phases of the game. I’m very proud of the success that we’ve had over the last two seasons and look forward to working with our new head coach, and moving us closer to and ultimately winning a championship.

We’ll begin the search immediately and update you through our PR team upon completion of each candidate that we interview.”

Robinson took questions, addressing the most obvious question of them all. He was asked whether or not Mularkey’s refusal to make staff changes had anything to do with the team letting him go. “That’s certainly something that was discussed,” Robinson said.

“In the end, we felt like we needed to go down a different path,” Robinson said. “There’s a lot of factors that go into every decision.”

Robinson noted that the decision was made this morning, saying that Mularkey’s comments about his staff impacted the situation. Mularkey said yesterday that he didn’t anticipate making any changes on that staff.

“We’ve done a lot of good things here over the past two years. I just felt like we needed to go a different direction and maximize the skillsets of the players,” Robinson said.

When asked what Robinson and the team will be looking for in their next coach, Robinson said, “A leader of men. Team first, detailed, tough, dependable. One that’s going to maximize the ability of the players in all three phases.”

As for who is going to make the ultimate decision, Robinson pointed to controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk. “Amy owns the team, so she will have the ultimate say. But I will have a very strong strong input,” Robinson said.

He noted that this roster shouldn’t have any trouble adapting to any new scheme, saying that the Titans have good talent on both sides of the football. That wasn’t the case a couple of seasons ago.