Marcus Mariota reflects on Titans career after loss to Chiefs
Quarterback Marcus Mariota reflected on his time with the Tennessee Titans after the team’s season-ending loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.
With the Tennessee Titans losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, former No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota might have played his last game with the only franchise he’s ever known.
Mariota, who was benched in Week 6 and went on to officially lose his job in Week 7, will now be a free agent with the 2019 season coming to an end and is almost certainly moving on to a new team in 2020.
After the game was over, Mariota had this to say about his time in Nashville, per Erik Bacharach of the Tennessean.
"“It was a gift. It’s been a true pleasure. The organization took a chance on me and I felt like I gave them everything I got. Obviously we’re not sure what’s going to happen, but I know when it’s all said and done that I gave this organization everything I could.”"
Marcus Mariota on his five years in Nashville/with the #Titans: “It was a gift.” pic.twitter.com/cRBD0x7bYw
— Erik Bacharach (@ErikBacharach) January 19, 2020
He was then asked to sum up what he learned about himself in 2019 in one word, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport.
"“Faith. I learned a lot about having faith in things that you can’t really see. No matter what happens, I know that I’ve given it everything I got and we’ll see what happens.”"
Marcus Mariota in one word what he learned about himself this season: Faith. #Titans pic.twitter.com/5b0eiWocfn
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) January 19, 2020
After being benched in Week 6, Mariota didn’t see the field again until Week 17, although he was only used in special packages. In total, he saw five snaps in the last four games, including one in the AFC title game loss to the Chiefs on Sunday.
Where Mariota goes from here remains to be seen, but he probably won’t be returning to Nashville. The Oregon product needs a change of scenery and will try to zero in on a landing spot that gives him a chance to be a starter in 2020.
While there will always be plenty of “what ifs” with Mariota’s time in Nashville, Titans fans will always respect the kind of professional and class act he was, and I’m sure will be rooting for him as long as he isn’t playing against the Titans.