According to a person familiar with the coach’s and the team’s negotiations, Mike Mularkey tendered his resignation to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, as reported by The Associated Press.
The coach’s departure will be formally announced by the Bills at a press conference on Friday morning. Since the official announcement had not yet been made, the speaker only agreed to remain anonymous.
The initial story that Mularkey and the team had struck a settlement to cover the remaining three years of his contract was published by ESPN.com, which cited unnamed sources. Additionally, according to ESPN.com, Mularkey’s decision to leave the squad was based on private family matters.
After finishing his second season with Buffalo, the former offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers is married and has two boys.
When contacted by The Associated Press, Mularkey stated that “now is not the best time to talk,” but otherwise declined to comment on the story.
He continued by saying that he preferred the news to be announced during the press conference, which he was aware was arranged.
Scott Berchtold, a Bills spokesperson, declined to comment.
After team owner Ralph Wilson declared last week that Mularkey would continue in his role as coach, Mularkey’s departure comes as a huge surprise. Holding a second press conference on January 4, just hours after Mularkey announced the departure of team president and general manager Tom Donahoe, Wilson made a special effort to support Mularkey.
A day later, Wilson lured Hall of Fame coach Marv Levy out of retirement to become General Manager, unseating Donahoe. Levy started working a full day on Thursday.
