Mike Nolan has coached in the NFL since 1987, spanning 36 seasons with 12 organizations. He served as head coach of the Michigan Panthers and San Francisco 49ers. His roles included Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers, Wide Receivers, and Assistant Linebackers. He worked under Al Groh, Brian Billick, and Dan Reeves. 5 of his former assistants went on to become NFL head coaches.

Coaching Tree

Head Coach Offense Defense Special Teams General

Career Timeline

Career History

Year	Team	Role(s)
2025	Michigan Panthers	Head Coach HC
2024	Michigan Panthers	Head Coach HC
2023	Michigan Panthers	Head Coach HC
2020	Dallas Cowboys	Defensive Coordinator under Mike McCarthy
2019	New Orleans Saints	Linebackers under Sean Payton
2018	New Orleans Saints	Linebackers under Sean Payton
2017	New Orleans Saints	Linebackers under Sean Payton
2015	San Diego Chargers	Linebackers under Mike McCoy
2014	Atlanta Falcons	Defensive Coordinator under Mike Smith
2013	Atlanta Falcons	Defensive Coordinator under Mike Smith
2012	Atlanta Falcons	Defensive Coordinator under Mike Smith
2011	Miami Dolphins	Defensive Coordinator under Tony Sparano
2010	Miami Dolphins	Defensive Coordinator under Tony Sparano
2009	Denver Broncos	Defensive Coordinator under Josh McDaniels
2008	San Francisco 49ers	Head Coach HC
2007	San Francisco 49ers	Head Coach HC
2006	San Francisco 49ers	Head Coach HC
2005	San Francisco 49ers	Head Coach HC
2004	Baltimore Ravens	Defensive Coordinator under Brian Billick
2003	Baltimore Ravens	Defensive Coordinator under Brian Billick
2002	Baltimore Ravens	Defensive Coordinator under Brian Billick
2001	Baltimore Ravens	Wide Receivers under Brian Billick
2000	New York Jets	Defensive Coordinator under Al Groh
1999	Washington Redskins	Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers under Norv Turner
1998	Washington Redskins	Defensive Coordinator under Norv Turner
1997	Washington Redskins	Defensive Coordinator under Norv Turner
1996	New York Giants	Defensive Coordinator under Dan Reeves
1995	New York Giants	Defensive Coordinator under Dan Reeves
1994	New York Giants	Defensive Coordinator under Dan Reeves
1993	New York Giants	Defensive Coordinator under Dan Reeves
1992	Denver Broncos	Linebackers under Dan Reeves
1991	Denver Broncos	Linebackers under Dan Reeves
1990	Denver Broncos	Linebackers under Dan Reeves
1989	Denver Broncos	Linebackers under Dan Reeves
1988	Denver Broncos	Assistant Linebackers, Special Teams Assistant under Dan Reeves
1987	Denver Broncos	Special Teams Assistant under Dan Reeves

Worked Under (11)

Coach	Team	Years
Al Groh	New York Jets	1
Brian Billick	Baltimore Ravens	4
Dan Reeves	Denver Broncos	6
Dan Reeves	New York Giants	4
Josh McDaniels	Denver Broncos	1
Mike McCarthy	Dallas Cowboys	1
Mike McCoy	San Diego Chargers	1
Mike Smith	Atlanta Falcons	3
Norv Turner	Washington Redskins	3
Sean Payton	New Orleans Saints	3
Tony Sparano	Miami Dolphins	2

Protégés (5)

Coach	First HC Job	Year
Mike McCarthy	Green Bay Packers	2006
Mike Singletary	San Francisco 49ers	2009
Ben McAdoo	New York Giants	2016
Adam Gase	Miami Dolphins	2016
Vance Joseph	Denver Broncos	2017