Mike Nolan

For other people named Mike Nolan, see Mike Nolan (disambiguation).

Mike Nolan

Nolan in 2008
Michigan Panthers
Position:	Head coach
Personal information
Born:	(1959-03-07) March 7, 1959 (age 65) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Career information
High school:	Woodside (Woodside, California)
College:	Oregon
Career history
As a coach:
Oregon (1981) Graduate assistant Stanford (1982–1983) Linebackers coach Rice (1984) Defensive line coach LSU (1985–1986) Linebackers coach Denver Broncos (1987–1988) Special teams coach Denver Broncos (1989–1992) Linebackers coach New York Giants (1993–1996) Defensive coordinator Washington Redskins (1997–1999) Defensive coordinator New York Jets (2000) Defensive coordinator Baltimore Ravens (2001) Wide receivers coach Baltimore Ravens (2002–2004) Defensive coordinator San Francisco 49ers (2005–2008) Head coach Denver Broncos (2009) Defensive coordinator Miami Dolphins (2010–2011) Defensive coordinator Atlanta Falcons (2012–2014) Defensive coordinator San Diego Chargers (2015) Linebackers coach New Orleans Saints (2017–2019) Linebackers coach Dallas Cowboys (2020) Defensive coordinator Michigan Panthers (2023–present) Head coach
Career highlights and awards
UFL UFL Coach of the Year (2024)
Head coaching record
Regular season:	NFL 17–36 (.321) USFL 4–6 (.400) UFL 7–3 (.700)
Postseason:	USFL 0–1 (.000) UFL 0–1 (.000)
Career:	NFL 17–36 (.321) USFL 4–7 (.364) UFL 7–4 (.636)

Michael Tullis Nolan ^[1] (born March 7, 1959) is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). Nolan previously served as a head coach for the San Francisco 49ers, and a defensive coordinator for the National Football League (NFL)'s Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Washington Redskins, New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, and Dallas Cowboys. ^[2] Nolan is a former linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, and New Orleans Saints.

College years

Nolan attended the University of Oregon and was a three-year letterman in football and starter at safety.

Coaching career

College

He has coached at the collegiate level at Stanford University, Rice University, and LSU before moving on to the National Football League.

Denver Broncos

In 1987, Nolan was hired by the Denver Broncos as a special teams coach under head coach, Dan Reeves. In 1989, he was promoted to linebackers coach.

New York Giants

In 1993, Nolan followed Dan Reeves to the New York Giants and he was hired as defensive coordinator.

Washington Redskins

In 1997, Nolan was hired as defensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins.

New York Jets

In 2000, Nolan was hired by the New York Jets as their defensive coordinator under head coach Al Groh.

Baltimore Ravens

In 2001, Nolan was hired as wide receivers coach for the Baltimore Ravens. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2002.

San Francisco 49ers

In 2005, Nolan was hired as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, following in his father's footsteps, the former San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints head coach, Dick Nolan. He also served as his own general manager.

Nolan and the 49ers selected Alex Smith with the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft. Nolan thought Smith to be cerebral, introspective, and non-confrontational. Nolan also evaluated Aaron Rodgers, but did not believe that Rodgers's attitude could co-exist with him. ^{[3] [4]} Nolan finished the 2005 season with a 4–12 record. The next season, Nolan led a late season run and the 49ers improved to 7–9. That led to expectations for the 2007 season which included at least 9 wins and a playoff appearance. The season started well at 2–0, but an 8-game losing streak ended all hope of a playoff run. During the season, he publicly disagreed with Smith over the severity of the quarterback's shoulder injury. ^[5] Nolan had been under intense scrutiny in the Bay Area. After the season, Nolan lost his general manager position and on October 20, 2008, Nolan was fired and replaced by his assistant head coach Mike Singletary. ^[6]

Suit issue

Following his hiring by the 49ers, Nolan asked the NFL for permission to wear a suit and tie on the sidelines as a tribute to his father. The league initially denied Nolan's request because of the contract it had with Reebok for its coaches to wear team-logo attire, a ruling that was changed during Nolan's second season as coach. In the new NFL policy, coaches were allowed to wear a full suit for only two home games per season. The suits were designed, marketed and labeled under the Reebok corporation. Nolan debuted the suit in a game at home against the Seattle Seahawks on November 19, 2006. A day later, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio sported another Reebok suit on Monday Night Football.

After further lobbying by Nolan, the NFL and Reebok reached an agreement to allow suits to be worn at all home games in the 2007 season. ^[7]

After his firing from the 49ers, however, he has simply worn team-issued apparel in all subsequent coaching jobs.

Denver Broncos (second stint)

In early 2009, Nolan was hired by the Denver Broncos as the defensive coordinator under head coach, Josh McDaniels. With a new 3-4 defense the Denver Broncos gave up the fewest points in the NFL (66) during the first six games of the season, and made their way to their first 6–0 start since the 1998 season in which they won Super Bowl XXXIII. The Broncos went 2 and 8 the rest of the way, and missed the playoffs. On January 18, 2010, Mike Nolan and Josh McDaniels mutually decided Nolan would resign as the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos. ^[2]

Miami Dolphins

On January 19, 2010, Nolan was hired by the Miami Dolphins as defensive coordinator. In the 2010 season, the Dolphins finished 14th in points allowed per game (20.8), 6th in yards allowed per game (309.3) and 12th in Football Outsiders' DVOA. In the 2011 season, they finished 6th in points allowed per game (19.6), 15th in yards allowed per game (345.1) and 13th in Football Outsiders' DVOA.

Atlanta Falcons

On January 17, 2012, Nolan was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as defensive coordinator. In the 2012 season, the Falcons finished 5th in points allowed per game (18.7), 24th in yards allowed per game (365.6) and 9th in Football Outsiders' DVOA. In the 2013 season, they finished 27th in both points (27.7) and yards (379.4) allowed per game, and 26th in Football Outsiders' DVOA. In the 2014 season, Atlanta finished 27th in points allowed per game (26.1), 32nd in yards allowed per game (398.2) and 31st in Football Outsiders' DVOA.

San Diego Chargers

In 2015, Nolan was hired by the San Diego Chargers as their linebackers coach.

New Orleans Saints

In 2017, Nolan was hired by the New Orleans Saints as their linebackers coach.

Dallas Cowboys

On January 5, 2020, Nolan was hired by the Dallas Cowboys as their defensive coordinator. He reunited with head coach Mike McCarthy who was his offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers. Nolan faced heavy restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of physical contact with the players, their availability due to a positive test for COVID-19 or having been exposed to someone who had it, a reduced training camp schedule and the cancellation of preseason games, which made it difficult to implement his defensive scheme. To make matters worse, most of the free agent signings for the defense were ineffective. The team would finish with a losing record (6-10), while the defensive unit allowed the most points in franchise history (473), finishing 31st in the league in run defense (158.8 YPG), 28th in scoring defense (29.6 PPG), 11th in pass defense (227.6 YPG), 20th in sacks (31) and allowed 69 plays of 20 yards or more. On January 8, 2021, the Cowboys fired Nolan, along with defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. ^[8]

Michigan Panthers

On February 3, 2023, it was announced that Nolan was hired by the Michigan Panthers of United States Football League (USFL) to be their head coach, succeeding Jeff Fisher. ^[9] This was Nolan's first head coaching job since 2008 with the 49ers.

2023

In Nolan's first season with the Panthers, he guided them to a 4–6 record, improving on last season where they went 2–8. Despite the mediocre record, the Panthers reached the playoffs, and faced the Pittsburgh Maulers in the USFL North Championship Game where they lost 31–27 in overtime.

2024

Due to the Panthers surviving the USFL and XFL's merger into the UFL, Nolan kept his job as head coach. The Panthers improved from last season, and finished with a 7–3 record, which was 2nd in the USFL conference. Nolan also won the UFL's Coach of the Year award. ^[10] Unfortunately for Nolan, the Panthers lost to the Birmingham Stallions in the USFL Conference Championship Game 31–18 after leading 18–3 at halftime.

Head coaching record

NFL

Team	Year	Regular Season					Post Season
		Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
SF	2005	4	12	0	.250	4th in NFC West	—	—	—	—
SF	2006	7	9	0	.438	3rd in NFC West	—	—	—	—
SF	2007	5	11	0	.313	3rd in NFC West	—	—	—	—
SF	2008	2	5	0	.286	Fired	—	—	—	—
SF Total		18	37	0	.327		0	0	.000
Total [11]		18	37	0	.327		0	0	.000

USFL/UFL

League	Team	Year	Regular season					Postseason
			Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
USFL	MICH	2023	4	6	0	.400	2nd in USFL North	0	1	.000	Lost to Pittsburgh Maulers in North Division Championship Game
UFL	MICH	2024	7	3	0	.700	2nd in USFL Conference	0	1	.000	Lost to Birmingham Stallions in USFL Conference Championship Game
Total			11	9	0	.550		0	2	.000

Personal life

Nolan is married to his wife, Kathy, and has four children, Michael, Matthew, Jennifer and Christopher. ^[12]

Nolan attended Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, California and Woodside High School, the alma mater of Julian Edelman.

Nolan's father, former 49ers and Saints coach Dick Nolan, died at age 75 on November 11, 2007, just a day before Mike's 49ers were to take on the Seattle Seahawks. Nolan decided to coach the Monday Night Football game in honor of his dad.

References

1. Denver Broncos 1981 Media Guide (profile on page 78). Retrieved January 23, 2021
2. "Defensive coordinator Nolan leaving Broncos". Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
3. Peterson, Gary (January 26, 2011), "Peterson: 49ers fans can play fantasy football over Aaron Rodgers vs. Alex Smith and Mike McCarthy vs. Mike Nolan", San Jose Mercury News, archived from the original on October 6, 2012, retrieved January 26, 2011, Nolan was no-nonsense, a strong personality who didn't like to be challenged. He met with Rodgers and Smith before the draft. He caught a whiff of attitude from Rodgers, and that was that.
4. "Nolan explains taking Alex Smith over Aaron Rodgers". NFL.com. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
5. Lynch, Kevin (October 20, 2008). "Why Mike Nolan was Fired". sfgate.com. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on August 18, 2013.
6. "Niners fire Nolan after 2-5 start". Archived from the original on March 27, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
7. "Dressed to the 49s: Nolan gets permission to suit up at S.F. home games". Archived from the original on June 19, 2007.
8. Archer, Todd (January 8, 2021). "Dallas Cowboys fire defensive coordinator Mike Nolan". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
9. "USFL hires Mike Nolan as Michigan Panthers head coach". FOX Sports. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
10. https://www.theufl.com/news/2024/june/06/michigan-panthers-mike-nolan-named-ufl-coach-of-the-year. ^{[ bare URL ]}
11. Jim Mora Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks – Pro-Football-Reference.com
12. Giants 70th Anniversary Year Book. p. 10.