Mike Nolan

Coaching Record

Years Coached Record Win % Playoff record Playoff win %
33 263-253-2 50.97% 11-11 50.00%

Coaching Tree

Parents:

Brian Billick, Al Groh, Dan Reeves, Norv Turner

Children:

Mike McCarthy, Mike Singletary, Jim Tomsula, Vance Joseph, Ben McAdoo, Adam Gase


Biography

Table of Contents

Career Summary

Mike Nolan was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1987 to 2020, finishing his career as the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys. Over his thirty-three years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 268-257-2. He was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2005 until the 2008 season, during which time the 49ers went 23-41-0. During his career he was a head coach for four seasons. He was fired from the 49ers on Monday, October 20, 2008.

Career Awards

During his time as defensive coordinator and head coach he coached four players to award-winning seasons. As the head coach for the 49ers Patrick Willis won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. As the defensive coordinator for the Ravens Ed Reed won AP Defensive Player of the Year, Terrell Suggs won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Ray Lewis won AP Defensive Player of the Year.

Mike Nolan Coaching Tree

Before he was a head coach, Nolan served as an assistant coach for Dan Reeves, Norv Turner, Al Groh, Brian Billick, Josh McDaniels, Tony Sparano, Mike Smith, Mike McCoy, Sean Payton, and Mike McCarthy. Ten of these years were spent on Reeves' coaching staff. During his time as head coach, six assistant coaches, (Mike McCarthy, Mike Singletary, Vance Joseph, Ben McAdoo, Jim Tomsula, and Adam Gase) on his coaching staff were hired as head coaches across the league. His coaching tree has combined for a record of 241-214-2 in the regular season and 11-13 in the playoffs during their twenty-nine seasons as head coach after serving on his coaching staffs. The coaching tree has won a single championship, in 2010 by the Green Bay Packers, led by Mike McCarthy.

Personal Information

Nolan was born on Saturday, March 7, 1959 in Baltimore, Maryland.


History

Year Position Record Playoff record
2020 Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator 6-10-0 0-0
2019 New Orleans Saints Linebackers Coach 13-3-0 0-1
2018 New Orleans Saints Linebackers Coach 13-3-0 1-1
2017 New Orleans Saints Linebackers Coach 11-5-0 1-1
2015 San Diego Chargers Linebackers Coach 4-12-0 0-0
2014 Atlanta Falcons Defensive Coordinator 6-10-0 0-0
2013 Atlanta Falcons Defensive Coordinator 4-12-0 0-0
2012 Atlanta Falcons Defensive Coordinator 13-3-0 1-1
2011 Miami Dolphins Defensive Coordinator 6-10-0 0-0
2010 Miami Dolphins Defensive Coordinator 7-9-0 0-0
2009 Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator 8-8-0 0-0
2008 San Francisco 49ers Head Coach 2-5-0 0-0
2007 San Francisco 49ers Head Coach 5-11-0 0-0
2006 San Francisco 49ers Head Coach 7-9-0 0-0
2005 San Francisco 49ers Head Coach 4-12-0 0-0
2004 Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator 9-7-0 0-0
2003 Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator 10-6-0 0-1
2002 Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator 7-9-0 0-0
2001 Baltimore Ravens Wide Receivers Coach 10-6-0 1-1
2000 New York Jets Defensive Coordinator 9-7-0 0-0
1999 Washington Redskins Defensive Coordinator 10-6-0 1-1
1998 Washington Redskins Defensive Coordinator 6-10-0 0-0
1997 Washington Redskins Defensive Coordinator 8-7-1 0-0
1996 New York Giants Defensive Coordinator 6-10-0 0-0
1995 New York Giants Defensive Coordinator 5-11-0 0-0
1994 New York Giants Defensive Coordinator 9-7-0 0-0
1993 New York Giants Defensive Coordinator 11-5-0 1-1
1992 Denver Broncos Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers Coach 8-8-0 0-0
1991 Denver Broncos Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers Coach 12-4-0 1-1
1990 Denver Broncos Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers Coach 5-11-0 0-0
1989 Denver Broncos Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers Coach 11-5-0 2-1
1988 Denver Broncos Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers Coach / Defensive Assistant Coach / Special Teams Coach 8-8-0 0-0
1987 Denver Broncos Special Teams Coordinator / Linebackers Coach / Special Teams Coach 10-4-1 2-1
1986 Louisiana State Tigers Linebackers Coach 9-3-0
1985 Rice Owls Linebackers Coach / Defensive Backs Coach 3-8-0
1984 Rice Owls Linebackers Coach / Defensive Backs Coach 1-10-0
1983 Stanford Cardinal Linebackers Coach / Defensive Backs Coach 1-10-0
1982 Stanford Cardinal Linebackers Coach / Defensive Backs Coach 5-6-0
1981 Oregon Ducks Graduate Assistant 2-9-0

Coach history guide

Seasons with a championship win Seasons with a conference championship

Coach facts