NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans kicked off their search for a new head coach by interviewing Houston defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel.

The Titans announced they concluded the interview early Thursday afternoon.

Tennessee is looking to replace Mike Mularkey, fired Monday after he went 21-22 and won the franchise’s first playoff game in 14 years.

Vrabel, 42, has never been a head coach at any level. He is coming off his first season as defensive coordinator for the Texans. Vrabel played 14 years in the NFL with Pittsburgh, New England – where he won three Super Bowl titles – and Kansas City before going into coaching. He started coaching in 2011 at his alma mater, Ohio State. He coached linebackers and defensive linemen.

Vrabel went to Houston in 2014 and coached linebackers with the Texans for three seasons before becoming coordinator.

FALCONS: Steve Sarkasian will return as offensive coordinator despite a decline in production in his debut 2017 season.

Sarkasian has been the target of criticism as the Falcons, who lost at Philadelphia in the divisional round of the playoffs last week and fell short of a return trip to the Super Bowl.

JAGUARS: Linebacker Telvin Smith is pleading for leniency after being fined $10,000 for taunting Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell during his fumble return for a touchdown last week.

Smith pointed at Bell near the goal line and drew a 15-yard penalty. He says he will appeal the fine.

STEELERS: The Steelers didn’t look very far for offensive coordinator Todd Haley’s replacement, promoting longtime quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner to the position.

The Steelers chose not to renew Haley’s contract, opening the door for Fichtner to take over one of the league’s most dynamic offenses. The 54-year-old Fichtner last called plays while serving as offensive coordinator at Memphis from 2001-06.

He joined Pittsburgh’s coaching staff in 2007 as one of coach Mike Tomlin’s initial hires. Fichtner spent three seasons as wide receivers coach before becoming the quarterbacks coach in 2010, where he developed a close rapport with Ben Roethlisberger.

VIKINGS: Safety Andrew Sendejo is working his way back from a concussion that forced him out of the previous game.

Sendejo took part in a limited portion of practice for the second straight day after a hit to the head from New Orleans wide receiver Michael Thomas knocked him to the turf and out of the game.

RAIDERS: Former Raiders coach Tom Cable is back on the Oakland staff to coach the offensive line.

Cable, 53, coached the Raiders for three seasons from 2008-10 and finished with a record of 17-27. He had been the assistant head coach and offensive line coach with the Seattle Seahawks since 2011 until his firing last week from Pete Carroll’s staff.