John McNulty

Coaching Record

Years Coached Record Win % Playoff record Playoff win %
15 105-135-0 43.75% 3-4 42.86%

Biography

Career Summary

John McNulty was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1998 to 2017, finishing his career as the tight ends coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. Over his fifteen years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 105-135-0.

Table of Contents

Playing Career: Penn State University

McNulty played college football for Penn State under head coach Joe Paterno from 1988-1990. In his first season with the team, the Nittany Lions had their worst season since 1938 with a record of 5-6. The team would rebound the next two seasons as they made two bowl appearances, winning one (Holiday Bowl, 1989).

Coaching Career

College Coaching

University of Michigan

McNulty began his coaching career at Michigan under head coach Gary Moeller in 1991 as a graduate assistant. During his four seasons with the Wolverines, the team won three of their four bowl appearances.

University of Connecticut

After Michigan, McNulty was hired as the wide receivers coach for the UCONN Huskies in 1995. While at UCONN, he helped coach wide receivers who topped 1,000 yards in his final two seasons. In 1997, wide receiver Carl Bond earned All-American recognition. McNulty left Uconn after the 1997 season.

First Sting in the NFL

Jacksonville Jaguars

In 1998, McNulty accepted his first position in the NFL. He was hired by Tom Coughlin to help coach the Jacksonville Jaguars. For 1998 and 1999 McNulty was the offensive quality control coach. For the 2000 season, he was promoted to wide receivers coach where he worked with Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell, one of the top pairs of receivers in the NFL. Smith earned All-Pro honors in 2000 and 2001 with the help of McNulty's coaching. Despite the Jaguars early success while he was there (25-7 with two playoff appearances in his first two seasons), three straight losing seasons led to Coughlin being fired at the conclusion of the 2002 season.

Dallas Cowboys

In 2003 McNulty coached for the Dallas Cowboys in Bill Parcell's first season as head coach. The Cowboys went 10-6 with a playoff appearance in McNulty's single season with the Cowboys.

Return to College

Rutgers University

In 2004 McNulty returned to the college game when he was hired by Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano. His tenure with Rutgers coincided with the most successful period of the school's football history. In 2005, the Scarlet Knights made their second bowl game in school history. In 2006, he was promoted to assistant offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. 2006 also saw the school's first season since 1976 where they finished the season ranked in the Top-25. In 2007, he dropped the "assistant" from his title and became the offensive coordinator of a record setting offense. The Scarlet Knights was the first offense to have a 3,000-yard passer, 2,000-yard rusher, and two 1,000-yard receivers. In addition to the national recognition, they set several offensive records for the school. He left after the 2008 season in which the school made a fourth consecutive bowl game.

Second Stint in the NFL

Arizona Cardinals

McNulty was hired by the Arizona Cardinals under head coach Ken Whisenhunt in 2009 to coach the wide receivers. During his time with the Cardinals, star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald was selected to three Pro Bowls and twice named to the All-Pro team. In 2012, he was named quarterbacks coach as the team finished the season 5-11, which led to Whisenhunt's firing.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

After his four seasons with the Cardinals, McNulty reunited with Schiano as the quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite the successful season from rookie quarterback Mike Glennon (named to the All-Rookie Team), the team finished the season 4-12, leading to the end of Schiano's tenure.

Tennessee Titans

After Tampa, McNulty was hired by the Tennessee Titans, which reunited him with Whisenhunt, again working as his quarterbacks coach. Injuries stifled the team's success as the Titans started three different quarterbacks, with each starting five or six games. The team finished 2014 and used their second overall draft pick on quarterback Marcus Mariotta. The team still struggled in 2015, leading to Whisenhunt being fired before the end of the 2015 season.

History

Year Position Record Playoff record
2017 Los Angeles Chargers Tight Ends Coach 9-7-0 0-0
2016 San Diego Chargers Tight Ends Coach 5-11-0 0-0
2015 Tennessee Titans Quarterbacks Coach 3-13-0 0-0
2014 Tennessee Titans Quarterbacks Coach 2-14-0 0-0
2013 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterbacks Coach 4-12-0 0-0
2012 Arizona Cardinals Quarterbacks Coach 5-11-0 0-0
2011 Arizona Cardinals Wide Receivers Coach 8-8-0 0-0
2010 Arizona Cardinals Wide Receivers Coach 5-11-0 0-0
2009 Arizona Cardinals Wide Receivers Coach 10-6-0 1-1
2008 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach 8-5-0
2007 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach 8-5-0
2006 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Assistant Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach 11-2-0
2005 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Wide Receivers Coach 7-5-0
2004 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Wide Receivers Coach 4-7-0
2003 Dallas Cowboys Wide Receivers Coach 10-6-0 0-1
2002 Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receivers Coach 6-10-0 0-0
2001 Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receivers Coach 6-10-0 0-0
2000 Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receivers Coach 7-9-0 0-0
1999 Jacksonville Jaguars Offensive Quality Control Coach 14-2-0 1-1
1998 Jacksonville Jaguars Offensive Quality Control Coach 11-5-0 1-1
1994 Michigan Wolverines Graduate Assistant 8-4-0
1993 Michigan Wolverines Graduate Assistant 8-4-0
1992 Michigan Wolverines Graduate Assistant 9-0-3
1991 Michigan Wolverines Graduate Assistant 10-2-0

Coach history guide

Seasons with a championship win Seasons with a conference championship

Coach facts