Mike Sullivan joins the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012 for his first season with the team, working as offensive coordinator. 

Sullivan’s position in Tampa Bay comes on the heels of a successful eight-season stretch with the New York Giants, during which time he coached teams to world championships in both Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLVI. 

For the past two seasons (2010-11), Sullivan was responsible for coaching the Giants quarterbacks, including Eli Manning. Under Sullivan’s tutelage, Manning achieved two of the best seasons in the league during that time, culminating in Super Bowl XLVI MVP honors. In 2011, Manning set a single-season franchise record in completions (359) and passing yards (4,933), which also ranked as the sixth-highest mark in NFL history. He was nominated to the 2012 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl and set the NFL record for most fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a season with 15. In two seasons with Sullivan as his position coach, Manning compiled the top two single-season completion totals and two of the top five passing yards and touchdown pass marks in Giants history. 

Before working with quarterbacks, Sullivan instructed the Giants wide receivers for six seasons. 

In 2009, his group of wideouts caught 236 passes – of which WR Steve Smith had 107, breaking the franchise record for receptions and becoming the first Giants wide receiver to be nominated to the Pro Bowl in 41 years. 

In four seasons under Sullivan’s direction, WR Plaxico Burress had 244 catches, placing him 12th on the club’s career list, for 3,681 receiving yards and 33 touchdown receptions. Burress recorded 10 of those touchdowns in 2006 and 12 the following season, becoming the first Giant since Del Shofner in 1961-62 to post back-to-back seasons with 10 or more touchdown catches. He also was responsible for the game-winning receptions in Super Bowl XLII. 

Sullivan has a wide range of coaching experience and ability, having also coached the defensive side of the ball with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a defensive quality control coach in 2002 before becoming the team’s offensive assistant in 2003. 

He joined the Jaguars after nine years coaching collegiately, beginning his career at Humboldt State in 1993 before stints at Army (1995-96, 1999-2000), Youngstown State (1997-98) and Ohio (2001). 

While at Youngstown State in 1997, Sullivan coached under Jim Tressel as the Penguins won the Division 1-AA National Championship. At Ohio, he coached the defensive backs and tutored the kick blocking units on special teams. 

Sullivan played defensive back at Army while completing his bachelor of science degree. He later earned his master’s from Humboldt State, and is furthermore a graduate of the U.S. Army Airborne, Ranger and Air Assault schools. Sullivan also holds a Blue Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 

Sullivan, a native of Santa Maria, California, is married to Julie. The couple has two daughters: Carmen Enriqueta and Hope Carolyn.

SULLIVAN AT A GLANCE