Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan introduced new head coach Mike Mularkey on Wednesday.
The former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator will be the fourth head coach in franchise history, following Tom Coughlin, Jack Del Rio and interim coach Mel Tucker.
The hiring of Mularkey, 50, was met with mixed response from fans after his offense failed to score in a Jan. 8 playoff game against the New York Giants.
Khan didn’t base his decision to hire Mularkey on one game and was confident that his choice was the right one for the Jaguars.
“(The fans) need to get to know Mike the way we know Mike. The issue was not splash. The issue was smart,” Khan said at an afternoon news conference at EverBank Field.
“If you are looking for one word, it’s ‘smart.’ It’s something sustainable. It’s about building something for the long term that will serve the fans well in the future,” said Khan.
The new owner asked that fans keep providing constructive feedback and input, and he clarified his definition of a fan.
“For me, a fan is somebody who is a season ticketholder for the Jaguars,” said Khan.
“We need input, but we need that from fans who are season ticketholders. As I’ve said before, Jacksonville needs the Jaguars and we need Jacksonville.”
Mularkey began introducing himself to Jacksonville Wednesday at the news conference.
“This is a team that is very close to making things happen and I’m here to make sure it does happen,” said Mularkey.
“I’ve got a good feel for these guys, especially defensively. I spent a good amount of time offensively looking at them and what needs to be addressed and (General Manager) Gene (Smith) and I will take care of that,” he said.
“We are in the process of putting a staff together right now as we move forward. I think it’s real important that you guys understand that I am here to put a winner on the field, a consistent winner,” said Mularkey.
He does not plan on calling the plays on game day and will hire an offensive coordinator. He also plans to speak with former interim head coach Mel Tucker about staying with the Jaguars.
Mularkey also emphasized the importance of the fans in the stands.
“We want fans to be a big part of this organization and the positive direction it’s going to go,” said Mularkey.
“We want EverBank Field to be a place that fans want to be on Sundays,” he said.
Mularkey expressed his enthusiasm about working with Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert. Mularkey has a history of developing quarterbacks with the Steelers and Falcons.
“(Gabbert) is a competitor. I like that to start. I see some field command from him,” Mularkey said.
“I watched a number of games on him and the first thing that I felt put him behind the eight ball was the lockout,” said Mularkey
“I think he’ll be a step ahead in his second year. I think he is going to take that next step on his own,” said Mularkey.
Mularkey, a Fort Lauderdale native, is responsible for taking the team the next step and he will draw on his experiences as a player with the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers, and as a coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and Falcons to develop a winning team.
“I’ve learned something at every stop whether it’s been from the head coach or the coaches around me or the players I’ve been involved with, some of it good and some of it not,” said Mularkey.
He credits Hall of Fame head coach Chuck Knoll as his biggest coaching influence.
Mularkey played tight end for Knoll’s Steelers from 1989-91.
Before being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1983, Mularkey was a three-year letter winner at tight end for the University of Florida.
His wife, Betsy, also graduated from the University of Florida and they have two sons, Patrick, who is a scouting assistant for the Jaguars, and Shane, who is a student at the University of North Carolina.
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