Titans fire GM Ruston Webster

Tennessee Titans have announce that they will not be renewing the contract of general manager Ruston Webster, but interim head coach Mike Mularkey will be interviewed for the permanent role.

Webster has fulfilled the position of general manager and executive vice president for the past four seasons, but the Titans have opted to make changes after a poor season that saw them go 3-13 in the NFL.

The Titans also confirmed that interim president and chief executive officer Steve Underwood will continue in those roles on a full-time basis.

"Our mission is to become one of the elite franchises in the National Football League, and we have fallen short of this goal in recent years," co-chairman Amy Adams Strunk said in a release.

"We are in the search process for our head coaching and general manager positions. We share our fans' frustration about the team's recent performance, and we are committed to doing everything we can to return our team to a perennial postseason contender."

The Titans are also set to make a decision on a permanent head coach with Mularkey, who has served on an interim basis since November, among those to be interviewed.

Sticking with Mularkey would provide some continuity. The former Buffalo Bills and Jackonsville Jaguars head coach went 2-7 this season after replacing Ken Whisenhunt, who was fired after a 1-6 start.

Mularkey was the Titans' third head coach on Webster's watch. The Titans went 18-46 during the GM's time in charge, but at least his successor will have the advantage of picking first overall in this spring's NFL Draft.

Another alternative appears to be Chip Kelly who was fired last week by the Philadelphia Eagles, with speculation mounting that he will take on the role.

If Kelly were to be appointed he would be reunited with former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota. The Titans selected the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner with the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

Mariota had an inconsistent rookie season with 2,818 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while missing three games with injuries. Being reunited with Kelly could help Mariota find a comfort zone in a system he knows.