NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Marcus Mariota said he was sorry to see Chip Kelly, the coach who recruited him to Oregon, fired Tuesday by the Philadelphia Eagles.
"Obviously we've had a connection through Oregon, but again my mindset isn't on that," Mariota said. "It's unfortunate [about] Coach Kelly and his situation. But I am sure whatever team he ends up going to he'll have success.
"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."
Mariota said he has not talked to Kelly since the firing.
The Titans quarterback is out for Sunday's finale with a sprained knee. It will be the fourth game he'll miss of his rookie year.
With Mariota available in last spring's draft, Kelly tried to trade up with the Titans for the second overall pick, but Tennessee kept it and took the Heisman Trophy winner.
Mariota said he'll always be grateful to Kelly and gives the coach a lot of credit for his success.
"I think that entire staff at Oregon really helped me become who I am today," Mariota said. "I always give them as much credit as I can because they really helped me get to this point."
The Titans are expected to move on from interim coach Mike Mularkey on Monday and begin a search for a new coach. There have not been any indications yet about whether interim CEO and president Steve Underwood and controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk like Kelly as a candidate.