Mike Sullivan is in his third year as the team's quarterbacks coach. He was hired on Feb. 8, 2021. Sullivan will enter his 19th season as an NFL coach in 2023.
In his second season with the Steelers, Sullivan led in the development of 2022 first-round draft pick Kenny Pickett, who started the final 12 games of the season and led the team to a 7-5 finish as a starter, including five wins in his last six games.
During his first season in Pittsburgh, Sullivan worked with Ben Roethlisberger, capping off the final chapter of his 18-year resume in Pittsburgh with a postseason berth - the 12th of his career.
Sullivan has coached quarterbacks or coordinated offenses in Denver (2018), New York Giants (2010-11, 2015-17) and Tampa Bay (2012-13) prior to arriving in Pittsburgh. Sullivan also coached wide receivers in the League with the New York Giants (2004-09). He tutored five players that reached the Pro Bowl, including Odell Beckham Jr. (2016), Vincent Jackson (2012), Eli Manning (2011, '15), Doug Martin (2012) and Steve Smith (2009) over that time. He started coaching in the NFL with Jacksonville as a defensive quality control (2002) and offensive assistant (2003).
Sullivan, who was the Director of Recruiting for Army West Point in 2020, served as offensive coordinator for two years with the Giants under head coach Ben McAdoo. In 2017, Sullivan took over offensive play-calling for the team in Week 6 and continued that responsibility through the remainder of the year.
In his first season as offensive coordinator for the Giants in 2016, New York finished 11-5. Quarterback Eli Manning recorded his fifth 4,000-yard season under Sullivan and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. ranked third in the NFL with 1,367 receiving yards.
Before his second stint with the Giants, Sullivan spent two seasons as offensive coordinator for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay's 2012 squad featured a 4,000-yard passer (Josh Freeman - 4,065 yards), a 1,000-yard rusher (Doug Martin – 1,454 yards) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Vincent Jackson – 1,384 yards). The Bucs finished that season ranked ninth in total offense, setting a franchise record by averaging 363.8 yards/game.
Sullivan won two Super Bowls—XLII (2007) and XLVI (2011)—during his first eight seasons with the Giants. He coached wide receivers for six seasons before being elevated to quarterbacks coach.
In the Giants' 2011 Super Bowl season—Manning's second year working with Sullivan—the quarterback set career highs in passing yards (4,933) and yards/attempt (8.4). In New York's four playoff games, Manning averaged more than 300 yards/game and finished the postseason with nine TDs against just one interception.
As wide receivers coach for the Giants, Sullivan worked with a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Plaxico Burress (2005, '07) and Steve Smith (2009).
Sullivan coached for eight seasons in the collegiate ranks, beginning with a graduate assistant post at Humboldt State University in 1993. He coached linebackers at his alma mater, Army, from 1995-96 before moving on to coach defensive backs at Youngstown State University from 1997-98.
Sullivan returned to Army to coach defensive backs from 1999-2000 and then worked for one season as defensive backs coach at Ohio University before making a move to the NFL.
A former defensive back at Army, Sullivan is a graduate of the U.S. Army Airborne, Ranger and Air Assault schools.
