NFL Rumors: Latest Reports Following Week 17

January 4 is "Black Monday" in the NFL coaching world, and there was no shortage of rumors when it came to hiring and firing.

Most rumblings centered around which coaches would be interested in which jobs, but one head coaching position appears to be hard to fill. Per Bleacher Report's Jason Cole, top available coaches are not interested in taking over a Tennessee Titans team that will have the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft.

Let's take a deeper look at the Titans' situation as well as two other vacant positions.

Titans May Have Hard Time Filling Head Coaching Position

Tennessee has won just five games over the past two seasons and fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt this year after a 1-6 start. Interim head coach Mike Mularkey went 2-7 at the helm and has not been elevated to permanent head coach yet.

Despite having the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft and an emerging young quarterback in Marcus Mariota, Cole said issues with team ownership are the biggest concern for possible head coaching prospects.

Amy Adams is the franchise's current controlling partner, but she manages the team from her home in Houston, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Cole said her sister and son also have a role in terms of ownership, but the question of "who is charge?" is a concern.

There has also been talk the team could be sold, despite the Titans continuing to deny reports, and the seemingly unstable situation is what's making top coaching prospects wary of taking a job with Tennessee, according to Cole.

While it's certainly a valid concern, La Canfora wrote it may not be a big enough one to keep every big-name coach away:

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Ultimately, the uncertainty might not preclude the Titans from getting a hotshot coach. Many close to New England coordinator Josh McDaniels and Bears coordinator Adam Gase maintain those coaches would be eager to explore this opportunity, and Chip Kelly has never hidden his fascination with Mariota, from the time he coached him in Oregon. But there will be questions to answer, and the muddled inter-family dynamics could end up scaring off at least some candidates as the process unfolds.

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It's not a great situation in Tennessee, but it could be worse. The Titans have the pick of any player they want in the draft, and if Mariota takes a step in the right direction next season, improvement could be on the horizon for the Titans.

Could Nick Saban Leave College for the NFL Again?

Even though Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said just two short weeks ago he doesn't see himself ever leaving college, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com said the Indianapolis Colts will pursue him if they part ways with head coach Chuck Pagano.

Rapoport said the Colts will make Saban and current New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton "say no, before moving on" with their search. 

Of course, coaches backtrack plenty of times, but it may be a short conversation with Saban, per Chris Low of ESPN.com:

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No, I really don't. I don't see it ever happening, and I know every year somebody has me going somewhere else. I think a lot of it isn't just about the coaching part. What people don't understand is they forget you're a person. They forget you have a wife and two kids and a grandbaby, and they all live in Birmingham.

They all work here. My wife goes to Birmingham five times a week. My mom lives in Birmingham now after moving from Myrtle Beach. It's not just the job. A lot of people don't get that. My life is here.

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Saban is 64 years old and trying to win his fourth national championship Jan. 11 in the College Football Playoff National Championship. He's already tried the NFL once and failed, and those words sound like a man who is content with where he is.

Payton's days in New Orleans could be numbered, per Katherine Terrell of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, and he makes much more sense as Pagano's possible replacement than Saban. He's had plenty of NFL success but is wearing out his welcome with the Saints.

It's fun to think about Saban coaching Andrew Luck in the NFL, but at this point, don't count on it happening.

Browns Could be Feeling Chippy

Recently fired Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has said he has no interest in returning to college to coach. If rumors from Pro Football Talk about him taking the Cleveland Browns' open head coaching position are true, he really means it.

Cleveland, which has had just two winning seasons since 2002, might be the least desirable landing spot at this point. With Sunday's firing of former had coach Mike Pettine, per Cindy Boren and Des Bieler of the Washington Post, the new coach would be taking over a team that has won just 13 games over the past three seasons, has no clear quarterback, a weak run game and a struggling defense.

However, there are only 32 NFL head coaching jobs, and when you are let go from one, accepting a less-than-optimal position is sometimes a must to remain in the coaching circle.

Kelly won 10 games each of his first two seasons with Philadelphia, but staggered to a 7-9 record this year and left with an 0-1 playoff record. However, he was wildly successful with the Oregon Ducks, going 46-7 in four years with wins in the Rose and Fiesta Bowls. 

He has not proved he can win in the NFL just yet, so any team willing to name him head coach will certainly be taking a chance.