John McNulty (American football)

McNulty began his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the wide receivers at the University of Michigan in 1991.[2] Michigan won two Big Ten titles and appeared in four bowl games including two Rose Bowl appearances during his time in Ann Arbor. In 1994, McNulty worked with standout wide receivers and future NFL players Amani Toomer and Mercury Hayes. McNulty spent three seasons (1995-97) at Connecticut working with wide receivers and special teams.[3] At UConn, McNulty helped wide receiver Carl Bond earn Division I-AA All-America honors in 1997. McNulty spent six seasons in the NFL, the first five in Jacksonville as an offensive quality control coach (1998-2000) and wide receivers coach (2000-02).[4] In Jacksonville, McNulty worked with one of the NFL’s top receiving tandems in Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell. During the 2000-01 seasons, the pair combined for 390 receptions and 4,903 yards, while Smith earned All-Pro honors both years. In 2002, Smith had 80 receptions for 1,027 yards, his seventh consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season. McNulty helped Jacksonville to playoff appearances in 1998 (11-5 record) and in 1999 (14-2 record).[5][6] McNulty then spent the 2003 season with the Dallas Cowboys as the wide receivers coach as the Cowboys went 10-6 and earned a playoff berth.[7]

From 2004 to 2008, McNulty spent five seasons with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and head coach Greg Schiano.[8] His first two seasons with the team were spent as wide receivers coach before being promoted to assistant offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for a year and finally offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for his final two seasons with the Scarlet Knights. Notably, his 2007 offense set school records for total offense (5,841 yards), points scored (421) and first downs (295).[9] The offensive unit also became the first in NCAA history to include a 3,000-yard passer (Mike Teel-3,140), a 2,000-yard rusher (Ray Rice-2,069) and two 1,000-yard receivers (Kenny Britt-1,232; Tiquan Underwood-1,100) in a single season.[1][10] During McNulty's five seasons at Rutgers, the Scarlet Knights posted a record of 38-24 and won three consecutive bowl games while he was in charge of play calling.[11]

Prior to joining Tampa Bay, McNulty spent four seasons (2009-12) with the Arizona Cardinals, three (2009-11) as the wide receivers coach and one (2012) as quarterbacks coach. Under his direction, WR Larry Fitzgerald was selected to three Pro Bowls and earned two All-Pro selections (2009, 2011). Fitzgerald also led the NFL in touchdown receptions (13) in 2010 and became the franchise leader in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and 100-yard games during their time together.[12][13]

In 2013, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and head coach Greg Schiano, hired McNulty to coach the quarterbacks.[11] With the Buccaneers, McNulty guided rookie QB Mike Glennon to rookie franchise marks for passing yards and touchdowns. Furthermore, Glennon registered the top passer rating (82.0) among NFL rookies in 2013 and was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team.[14]

In 2014, McNulty was reunited with head coach Ken Whisenhunt as the Tennessee Titans quarterbacks coach.[15] Last season, McNulty saw three different quarterbacks start at least five games due to injuries. Jake Locker started the season, Charlie Whitehurst started five games and rookie Zach Mettenberger started six games during the middle of the season. Mettenberger reached a number of highs during the season, including the rookie franchise mark for passing yards in a game (345 at Philadelphia), the highest franchise passer rating for a rookie season (83.4), highest passing yardage total by any rookie on Monday Night Football (263) and the second-highest passer rating among the 2014 rookie class of quarterbacks.[16]

With the Chargers, McNulty had one of the best tight end positional groups in the NFL, led by a likely future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates and a budding, second-year All-Pro Hunter Henry.[17] As a rookie in 2016, Henry led all NFL tight ends with seven touchdowns while Gates had the second-most with six. In 2017, Charger tight ends were targeted on 21.2 percent of quarterback Philip Rivers' pass attempts. While Henry tallied 579 yards and four touchdowns on 45 receptions, Gates hauled in 30 catches for 316 yards and three scores.[18]

In 2018, McNulty replaced Jerry Kill as the offensive coordinator for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and head coach Chris Ash.[9][17]

In 2020, after spending a year as an offensive analyst with the Penn State football team, McNulty was hired by Notre Dame as the tight ends coach, replacing offensive coordinator Chip Long, who also served as the tight ends coach.