Go ahead and officially add Marcus Mariota to the list of Chip Kelly supporters.
According to ESPN’s Paul Kuharsky, the rookie quarterback — whose Tennessee Titans are looking for a new head coach and could be interested in reuniting the duo — said Kelly will win wherever he goes.
“Obviously we’ve had a connection through Oregon, but again my mindset isn’t on that. It’s unfortunate [about] Coach Kelly and his situation. But I am sure whatever team he ends up going to he’ll have success.”
Mariota added that 2015 probably didn’t go the way Kelly planned but recent seasons have showed the former Oregon coach’s ability.
“I think he’s proven [he can be a winner] the first two years. I think this past year was tough, he probably didn’t have the season that he wanted. But to win 10 games his first two years says a lot about what he’s able to do and says a lot about his coaching.”
The Titans fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt following a 1-6 start to 2015. Tennessee had gone 2-14 under Whisenhunt’s watch in 2014, which led to the franchise’s pick of Mariota at No. 2 overall.
Mariota, who Kelly recruited to Oregon, set multiple program records and capped his college career with the Heisman Trophy. The only year Mariota started at quarterback under Kelly, the Ducks finished 12-1 and won the Fiesta Bowl, one of the college level’s four biggest postseason games.
Bringing them back together would give Kelly the perfect player to run the fast-paced offensive system. Not only would we finally see the ceiling of Kelly’s scheme, Mariota’s development as an NFL quarterback won’t be slowed due to the roster learning another playbook and its terminology.
Perhaps it’s too obvious, but the Titans ought to find out if Kelly can have that success with Mariota as the quarterback, not simply an outside viewer.