A curveball has been thrown in the Minnesota Vikings’ search for an offensive coordinator.

After most thought the Vikings would likely bring back interim offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press reported on Sunday that Stefanski is likely to move on (by his own choice), and the Vikings are seriously considering Mike Mularkey.

Mularkey was out of the league last season after two-plus seasons as coach of the Tennessee Titans. There, he amassed a 20-21 record, including back-to-back 9-7 campaigns.

This is a coach who has eight seasons of experience as an offensive coordinator and in four of those seasons, his team ranked in the top five in rushing attempts.

That’s where this makes some sense. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has preached running the ball, and that’s something Mularkey (the man who brought us Exotic Smashmouth Football) loves to do.

There’s some Vikings history here as well. Mularkey, a former tight end, played for the Vikings from 1983-1988.