Michigan State’s coaching shuffle took an unexpected turn over the weekend, but head coach Pat Fitzgerald didn’t waste any time filling the gap. Just weeks into his tenure in East Lansing, Fitzgerald saw his newly-hired quarterbacks coach, Mike Bajakian, depart for the NFL, accepting the same role with the Cleveland Browns. It’s not the kind of early transition any new head coach wants to deal with, especially with 2027 recruiting already ramping up-but Fitzgerald responded quickly.
Enter John McNulty.
Michigan State is set to bring in McNulty as its next quarterbacks coach, a move confirmed by a school spokesperson. McNulty brings a deep and varied resume to East Lansing, and his connection to new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan-who he overlapped with at Alabama-adds another layer of familiarity to the hire.
McNulty’s coaching journey is one that spans both college football and the NFL. He’s held quarterback coaching roles with three NFL teams: the Arizona Cardinals in 2012, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2013, and the Tennessee Titans from 2014 to 2015. He’s also worked with wide receivers and tight ends at the pro level, giving him a broader perspective on the passing game than your average QB coach.
On the college side, McNulty’s experience is just as extensive. He’s spent more than two decades working at the collegiate level, with his most recent stop coming at Rutgers in 2025. Before that, he served as Boston College’s offensive coordinator in 2022, giving him valuable play-calling experience that could prove useful as the Spartans retool their offense.
This hire helps solidify Fitzgerald’s offensive staff, which is still taking shape in the early days of his Michigan State tenure. Officially named the Spartans’ 27th head coach on December 1, 2025, Fitzgerald arrived in East Lansing after 17 seasons at Northwestern, where he racked up 110 wins-second-most among active Big Ten coaches at the time of his hiring.
He replaces Jonathan Smith, who was let go after two seasons that ended without bowl appearances. Now, Fitzgerald is tasked with rebuilding a program that’s looking to reestablish itself in the Big Ten hierarchy. The addition of a seasoned coach like McNulty is a step in that direction-someone who not only knows how to develop quarterbacks but also understands the nuances of building an offense from the ground up.
With recruiting season heating up and the staff still being finalized, there’s plenty more to come out of East Lansing in the weeks ahead. But for now, Fitzgerald’s quick response to a sudden vacancy is a reminder that Michigan State’s new era is already moving with purpose.