Michigan State University Athletics
Football
John McNulty
- Title:
- Quarterbacks Coach
- Email:
- football@msu.edu
- Phone:
- 355-1647
John McNulty was named Michigan State’s quarterbacks coach on Feb. 4, 2026.
McNulty most recently was a senior offensive assistant at Rutgers in 2025 and worked with MSU offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan for one season at Alabama as an analyst in 2024.
McNulty has over 30 years of coaching experience, including time at Boston College (offensive coordinator in 2022) and Notre Dame (tight ends coach in 2020-21), and also spent 15 years overall in the NFL with stints at Jacksonville (1998-2002), Dallas (2003), Arizona (2009-12), Tampa Bay (2013), Tennessee (2014-15) and San Diego/Los Angeles (2016-17).
Before returning to Piscataway in 2025, McNulty had previously coached at Rutgers on two previous occasions. He joined Greg Schiano’s staff in 2004 as the wide receivers coach, then was promoted to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2006, and took over as offensive coordinator for two seasons (2007-08) while remaining in his role as QB coach. After his time in the NFL, McNulty came back to the college ranks at RU as the Scarlet Knights’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2018-19.
McNulty piloted one of the most prolific offenses in Rutgers history in 2007, with the Scarlet Knights becoming the first FBS program to have a 3,000-yard passer (Mike Teel), 2,000-yard rusher (Ray Rice) and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers (Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood) in the same season. The Scarlet Knights set school records for scoring (426), first downs (294) and total offense (5,841) in 2007. McNulty was part of four bowl teams during his first five-year tenure at Rutgers, including three straight wins at the Texas, International and PapaJohns.com Bowls.
McNulty began his 15-year NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars on the offensive staff from 1998-2002. He then joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2003 with Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells. During his first six-year stint in the NFL, McNulty helped his teams advance to three playoff berths. While in Jacksonville, he coached two of the NFL’s top receiving duos in Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell. In 2000 and 2001, the pair combined for 390 receptions and 4,903 yards, while Smith earned All-Pro honors both seasons.
Following a five-year run at Rutgers from 2004-08, McNulty spent three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, coaching wide receivers from 2009-11, including Pro Bowler receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and quarterbacks in 2012. He later joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff for the 2013 season, coaching rookie quarterback Mike Glennon, who earned All-Rookie honors.
McNulty served as quarterbacks coach for two seasons with the Tennessee Titans from 2014-15 under his former Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt. While with the Titans, he mentored second overall pick Marcus Mariota for the 2015 season. Mariota went on to finish his first season with the highest passer rating among rookies (91.5). He posted four games with at least three touchdown passes in 2015, tying Peyton Manning (1998) for the most ever by an NFL rookie despite missing four games. Mariota also broke the franchise record for most passing touchdowns (19), completions (230) and passing yards (2,818) by a rookie.
McNulty then took on the role of tight ends coach for the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers in 2016-17, coaching Hall of Famer Antonio Gates.
During McNulty’s two seasons at Notre Dame (2020-21), the Fighting Irish recorded a 21-4 record, including a berth in the College Football Playoff in 2020. He coached NFL Draft picks Tommy Tremble (third round, Carolina, 2021) and Michael Mayer (second round, Las Vegas, 2023) while at UND, and both players are currently playing in the NFL.
After spending one season as the offensive coordinator at Boston College in 2022 under Jeff Hafley, McNulty was an offensive analyst for two seasons at Alabama, first under Nick Saban in 2023 as the Crimson Tide won the SEC and reached the College Football Playoff, and then under Kalen DeBoer in 2024, where he worked with Sheridan.
McNulty’s first full-time coaching role came as the wide receivers coach at UConn for three seasons (1995-97). A three-year safety at Penn State from 1988-90, McNulty, a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for four years at Michigan (1991-94).
McNulty and his wife, Kim, have four daughters, Abigail, Allison, Megan and Kaitlyn.
THE McNULTY FILE
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• 1991-94: Michigan (graduate assistant)
• 1995-97: Connecticut (wide receivers)
• 1998-99: Jacksonville Jaguars (offensive quality control)
• 2000-02: Jacksonville Jaguars (wide receivers)
• 2003: Dallas Cowboys (wide receivers)
• 2004-05: Rutgers (wide receivers)
• 2006: Rutgers (assistant offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2007-08: Rutgers (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2009-11: Arizona Cardinals (wide receivers)
• 2012: Arizona Cardinals (quarterbacks)
• 2013: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (quarterbacks)
• 2014-15: Tennessee Titans (quarterbacks)
• 2016-17: San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (tight ends)
• 2018-19: Rutgers (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2019: Penn State (analyst)
• 2020-21: Notre Dame (tight ends)
• 2022: Boston College (offensive coordinator)
• 2023-24: Alabama (analyst)
• 2025: Rutgers (senior offensive assistant)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
College – Played three years (1988-90) as a safety at Penn State.
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE:
Coach – 1992 Rose Bowl (Michigan), 1993 Rose Bowl (Michigan), 1994 Hall of Fame Bowl (Michigan), 1994 Holiday Bowl (Michigan), 1999 AFC Playoffs (Jaguars), 2000 AFC Playoffs (Jaguars), 2004 NFC Playoffs (Cowboys), 2005 Insight Bowl (Rutgers), 2006 Texas Bowl (Rutgers), 2007 International Bowl (Rutgers), 2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl (Rutgers), 2010 NFC Playoffs (Cardinals), 2019 Cotton Bowl (Penn State), 2021 CFP Semifinal/Rose Bowl (Notre Dame), 2022 Fiesta Bowl (Notre Dame), 2024 CFP Semifinal/Rose Bowl (Alabama), 2024 Reliaquest Bowl (Alabama)
NFL DRAFT PICKS COACHED:
2008: RB Ray Rice (Rutgers; 2nd round, No. 55 overall, Baltimore), OG Jeremy Zuttah (Rutgers; 3rd round, No. 83 overall, Tampa Bay)
2009: WR Kenny Britt (Rutgers; 1st round, No. 30 overall, Tennessee), QB Mike Teel (Rutgers; 6th round, No. 178 overall, Seattle), WR Tiguan Underwood (Rutgers; 7th round, No. 253 overall, Jacksonville)
2010: OL Anthony Davis (Rutgers; 1st round, No. 11 overall, San Francisco)
2021: TE Tommy Tremble (Notre Dame; 3rd round, No. 83 overall, Carolina)
2023: WR Zay Flowers (Boston College; 1st round, No. 22 overall, Baltimore), TE Michael Mayer (Notre Dame; 2nd round, No. 35 overall, Las Vegas)
NFL PRO BOWLERS COACHED:
WR Jimmy Smith (Jacksonville Jaguars), WR Keenan McCardell (Jacksonville Jaguars), WR Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals), TE Antonio Gates (San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers)
NFL ALL-ROOKIE PLAYERS COACHED:
2013: QB MIke Glennon (Tampa Bay)
ALL-AMERICANS COACHED:
2007: RB Ray Rice (Rutgers; 2nd team, AP, Walter Camp, Sporting News)
2008: WR Kenny Britt (Rutgers; 3rd team, AP, Phil Steele)
2021: TE Michael Mayer (Notre Dame; 3rd team, AP)
2022: WR Zay Flowers (Boston College; 3rd team, AP)
McNulty most recently was a senior offensive assistant at Rutgers in 2025 and worked with MSU offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan for one season at Alabama as an analyst in 2024.
McNulty has over 30 years of coaching experience, including time at Boston College (offensive coordinator in 2022) and Notre Dame (tight ends coach in 2020-21), and also spent 15 years overall in the NFL with stints at Jacksonville (1998-2002), Dallas (2003), Arizona (2009-12), Tampa Bay (2013), Tennessee (2014-15) and San Diego/Los Angeles (2016-17).
Before returning to Piscataway in 2025, McNulty had previously coached at Rutgers on two previous occasions. He joined Greg Schiano’s staff in 2004 as the wide receivers coach, then was promoted to co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2006, and took over as offensive coordinator for two seasons (2007-08) while remaining in his role as QB coach. After his time in the NFL, McNulty came back to the college ranks at RU as the Scarlet Knights’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2018-19.
McNulty piloted one of the most prolific offenses in Rutgers history in 2007, with the Scarlet Knights becoming the first FBS program to have a 3,000-yard passer (Mike Teel), 2,000-yard rusher (Ray Rice) and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers (Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood) in the same season. The Scarlet Knights set school records for scoring (426), first downs (294) and total offense (5,841) in 2007. McNulty was part of four bowl teams during his first five-year tenure at Rutgers, including three straight wins at the Texas, International and PapaJohns.com Bowls.
McNulty began his 15-year NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars on the offensive staff from 1998-2002. He then joined the Dallas Cowboys in 2003 with Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells. During his first six-year stint in the NFL, McNulty helped his teams advance to three playoff berths. While in Jacksonville, he coached two of the NFL’s top receiving duos in Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell. In 2000 and 2001, the pair combined for 390 receptions and 4,903 yards, while Smith earned All-Pro honors both seasons.
Following a five-year run at Rutgers from 2004-08, McNulty spent three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, coaching wide receivers from 2009-11, including Pro Bowler receiver Larry Fitzgerald, and quarterbacks in 2012. He later joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff for the 2013 season, coaching rookie quarterback Mike Glennon, who earned All-Rookie honors.
McNulty served as quarterbacks coach for two seasons with the Tennessee Titans from 2014-15 under his former Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt. While with the Titans, he mentored second overall pick Marcus Mariota for the 2015 season. Mariota went on to finish his first season with the highest passer rating among rookies (91.5). He posted four games with at least three touchdown passes in 2015, tying Peyton Manning (1998) for the most ever by an NFL rookie despite missing four games. Mariota also broke the franchise record for most passing touchdowns (19), completions (230) and passing yards (2,818) by a rookie.
McNulty then took on the role of tight ends coach for the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers in 2016-17, coaching Hall of Famer Antonio Gates.
During McNulty’s two seasons at Notre Dame (2020-21), the Fighting Irish recorded a 21-4 record, including a berth in the College Football Playoff in 2020. He coached NFL Draft picks Tommy Tremble (third round, Carolina, 2021) and Michael Mayer (second round, Las Vegas, 2023) while at UND, and both players are currently playing in the NFL.
After spending one season as the offensive coordinator at Boston College in 2022 under Jeff Hafley, McNulty was an offensive analyst for two seasons at Alabama, first under Nick Saban in 2023 as the Crimson Tide won the SEC and reached the College Football Playoff, and then under Kalen DeBoer in 2024, where he worked with Sheridan.
McNulty’s first full-time coaching role came as the wide receivers coach at UConn for three seasons (1995-97). A three-year safety at Penn State from 1988-90, McNulty, a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for four years at Michigan (1991-94).
McNulty and his wife, Kim, have four daughters, Abigail, Allison, Megan and Kaitlyn.
THE McNULTY FILE
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE:
• 1991-94: Michigan (graduate assistant)
• 1995-97: Connecticut (wide receivers)
• 1998-99: Jacksonville Jaguars (offensive quality control)
• 2000-02: Jacksonville Jaguars (wide receivers)
• 2003: Dallas Cowboys (wide receivers)
• 2004-05: Rutgers (wide receivers)
• 2006: Rutgers (assistant offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2007-08: Rutgers (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2009-11: Arizona Cardinals (wide receivers)
• 2012: Arizona Cardinals (quarterbacks)
• 2013: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (quarterbacks)
• 2014-15: Tennessee Titans (quarterbacks)
• 2016-17: San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (tight ends)
• 2018-19: Rutgers (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)
• 2019: Penn State (analyst)
• 2020-21: Notre Dame (tight ends)
• 2022: Boston College (offensive coordinator)
• 2023-24: Alabama (analyst)
• 2025: Rutgers (senior offensive assistant)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE:
College – Played three years (1988-90) as a safety at Penn State.
POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE:
Coach – 1992 Rose Bowl (Michigan), 1993 Rose Bowl (Michigan), 1994 Hall of Fame Bowl (Michigan), 1994 Holiday Bowl (Michigan), 1999 AFC Playoffs (Jaguars), 2000 AFC Playoffs (Jaguars), 2004 NFC Playoffs (Cowboys), 2005 Insight Bowl (Rutgers), 2006 Texas Bowl (Rutgers), 2007 International Bowl (Rutgers), 2008 PapaJohns.com Bowl (Rutgers), 2010 NFC Playoffs (Cardinals), 2019 Cotton Bowl (Penn State), 2021 CFP Semifinal/Rose Bowl (Notre Dame), 2022 Fiesta Bowl (Notre Dame), 2024 CFP Semifinal/Rose Bowl (Alabama), 2024 Reliaquest Bowl (Alabama)
NFL DRAFT PICKS COACHED:
2008: RB Ray Rice (Rutgers; 2nd round, No. 55 overall, Baltimore), OG Jeremy Zuttah (Rutgers; 3rd round, No. 83 overall, Tampa Bay)
2009: WR Kenny Britt (Rutgers; 1st round, No. 30 overall, Tennessee), QB Mike Teel (Rutgers; 6th round, No. 178 overall, Seattle), WR Tiguan Underwood (Rutgers; 7th round, No. 253 overall, Jacksonville)
2010: OL Anthony Davis (Rutgers; 1st round, No. 11 overall, San Francisco)
2021: TE Tommy Tremble (Notre Dame; 3rd round, No. 83 overall, Carolina)
2023: WR Zay Flowers (Boston College; 1st round, No. 22 overall, Baltimore), TE Michael Mayer (Notre Dame; 2nd round, No. 35 overall, Las Vegas)
NFL PRO BOWLERS COACHED:
WR Jimmy Smith (Jacksonville Jaguars), WR Keenan McCardell (Jacksonville Jaguars), WR Larry Fitzgerald (Arizona Cardinals), TE Antonio Gates (San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers)
NFL ALL-ROOKIE PLAYERS COACHED:
2013: QB MIke Glennon (Tampa Bay)
ALL-AMERICANS COACHED:
2007: RB Ray Rice (Rutgers; 2nd team, AP, Walter Camp, Sporting News)
2008: WR Kenny Britt (Rutgers; 3rd team, AP, Phil Steele)
2021: TE Michael Mayer (Notre Dame; 3rd team, AP)
2022: WR Zay Flowers (Boston College; 3rd team, AP)
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