Mike Mularkey
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Mike Mularkey (born November 19, 1961 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) is an assistant coach of the Miami Dolphins. He is a former Buffalo Bills head coach and offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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[edit] Playing career
Mularkey played quarterback for Northeast High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He played collegiately at the University of Florida.
In 1983, Mularkey was a ninth-round draft pick for the San Francisco 49ers, but was cut before appearing in game. He went on to play with the Minnesota Vikings until the conclusion of the 1988 season. In 1989, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent for the final three years of his playing career.
[edit] Career statistics
| Receiving | ||||||
| Year | Team | G | Rec | Yards | Y/R | TD |
| 1983 | Minnesota Vikings | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | Minnesota Vikings | 16 | 14 | 134 | 9.6 | 2 |
| 1985 | Minnesota Vikings | 15 | 13 | 196 | 15.1 | 1 |
| 1986 | Minnesota Vikings | 16 | 11 | 89 | 8.1 | 2 |
| 1987 | Minnesota Vikings | 9 | 1 | 6 | 6.0 | 0 |
| 1988 | Minnesota Vikings | 16 | 3 | 39 | 13.0 | 0 |
| 1989 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 14 | 22 | 326 | 14.8 | 1 |
| 1990 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 32 | 365 | 11.4 | 3 |
| 1991 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 9 | 6 | 67 | 11.2 | 0 |
[edit] Coaching career
[edit] Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mularkey started his coaching career in 1995 as Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight ends coach, and held the position for just one season.
[edit] Pittsburgh Steelers
Mularkey was hired as the Steelers tight ends coach in 1996 and held the position until the conclusion of the 2000 season, when he replaced Kevin Gilbride as the team's offensive coordinator. He has a reputation for being an offense-oriented head coach with a penchant for trick plays. His skill for creating special packages to utilize multi-dimensional players such as Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El earned him the nickname "Inspector Gadget".[1] To the chagrin of many fans, Mularkey single-handedly changed the Pittsburgh Steelers from a renowned "smash mouth" style of offense to one that relied on trickery and deceit. After he left Pittsburgh after the 2003 season, the Steelers quickly reverted to their traditional style of play (but continued the use of gadget plays) and won Super Bowl XL.
[edit] Buffalo Bills
In 2004, Mularkey left the Steelers and was hired by the Buffalo Bills to succeed Gregg Williams as the team's head coach. Mularkey started out his first campaign as Bills head coach with a record of 0-4. He rallied his team to a 9-7 record by the end of the season, however, sparked by a six-game winning streak during which the Bills scored more points than in any other similar stretch in franchise history.
His second season in Buffalo was far less successful. Dogged by a quarterback controversy between J.P. Losman and Kelly Holcomb and a series of defensive personnel problems, Mularkey led the team to a 5–11 finish and a sixth consecutive year out of the playoffs - the longest such active streak in the AFC. Mularkey's offensive schemes continued to be touted by then general manager Tom Donahoe, despite the lack of production; Mularkey's schemes proved to be predictable, and the Bills finished 28th in total offense.
On January 12, 2006, Mularkey resigned as head coach of the Bills, citing a disagreement in the direction of the organization, which had recently hired new management including ex-coach Marv Levy. Fans in Buffalo were surprised at his resignation.[2]
[edit] Miami Dolphins
On January 22, 2006, Mularkey was hired to be the Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator.[3] As the offensive coordinator under Miami's coach, Nick Saban, Mularkey had an unsuccessful season with injuries to his first string quarterback, Daunte Culpepper, and running back, Ronnie Brown. The Dolphins only scored 16.3 points per game, ranking 29th in the NFL. Following the season, it was announced Saban had resigned as Dolphins head coach and he accepted the position of head coach of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide on January 3, 2007.
Upon the hiring of former San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron as Dolphins head coach on January 19, 2007, it was announced that Mularkey would no longer serve as offensive coordinator but would remain with the team in another capacity. On March 15, 2007 it was officially announced that Cameron himself will call the offensive plays in 2007, while Mularkey will serve as tight ends coach.[4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Best Local Boy Made Good. Broward-Palm Beach New Times. Retrieved on January 24, 2007.
- ^ Mularkey resigns as Bills' head coach. ESPN.com. Retrieved on January 24, 2007.
- ^ Ex-Bills coach Mularkey joins Dolphins. AP. Retrieved on January 24, 2007.
- ^ Mularkey to return to Dolphins in 2007. South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved on January 24, 2007.
| Preceded by Kevin Gilbride |
Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinators 2001-2003 |
Succeeded by Ken Whisenhunt |
| Preceded by Gregg Williams |
Buffalo Bills Head Coaches 2004–2005 |
Succeeded by Dick Jauron |
| Preceded by Scott Linehan |
Miami Dolphins Offensive Coordinators 2006 |
Succeeded by Position Vacant |
| Buffalo Bills Head Coaches |
|---|
| Ramsey • Saban • Collier • Johnson • Rauch • Johnson • Saban • Ringo • Knox • Stephenson • Bullough • Levy • W. Phillips • Williams • Mularkey • Jauron |
