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Mike Mularkey Likely To Interview For Jacksonville Jaguars Job, According To Report

The oft-criticized offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons could be a sought-after candidate for open head coaching jobs this offseason.

NFL.com's Jason LaCanfora is reporting that the Jacksonville Jaguars will request permission to interview current Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey for their vacant head coaching position.

The Falcons have found success under Mularkey, but not without controversy. Atlanta's attack has been criticized for being too vanilla, streaky at times and not powerful enough to hang with NFC elites like Green Bay and New Orleans. Mularkey's scheme was further criticized when the passing game failed to take the next step in 2011, despite the Falcons adding Julio Jones. Atlanta has experimented with a no-huddle offense featuring line audibles by quarterback Matt Ryan to varying degrees of success.

Entering their third postseason in the four years since Mularkey has been the offensive coordinator under head coach Mike Smith, Atlanta is tenth in the league in total offense (376.6 yards per game), eighth in passing (262 yards per game) and 17th in rushing (114.6 yards a game).

A former tight end for the Steelers and Vikings, Mularkey has been coaching in the NFL since 1994, including two years as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills in 2004-'05. He's a Florida native, hailing from Miami and playing for the Florida Gators ('83) in college.

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Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.