Mike Sullivan returns to Giants as quarterbacks coach

Tom Coughlin didn't waste any time filling the New York Giants opening at quarterbacks coach, bringing Mike Sullivan back tot he role he held in 2010 and 2011.

The opening was created when Danny Langsdorf left the Giants Tuesday to return to the college ranks as offensive coordinator at Nebraska.

"Mike Sullivan is a quality football coach and is an outstanding positional coach and did a great job for us as a receiver coach and as a quarterbacks coach," Coughlin said. "He was the first thought that I had and we were fortunate in that the timing was right to get him back here. We're very pleased to be able to bring him back home."

Sullivan was with the Giants as an assistant from 2004-2011. He was wide receivers coach until 2009 and served as quarterbacks coach his final two seasons. Sullivan then spent two seasons as offensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before being let go after the 2013 season.

"It's great to be back," Sullivan said. "I can't wait to get started."

Sullivan was thought to be a candidate for the Giants offensive coordinator position last year, but was passed over in favor of Ben McAdoo. The two will now work together.

Per the press release issued by the Giants, Sullivan and McAdoo had a "lengthy" phone conversation before Sullivan agreed to return to New York.

"I know of Ben and I know a lot of folks that speak highly of him, including some other people that I’ve worked with," Sullivan said. "He had asked around about me and, fortunately, had heard some good things. We had a good conversation and, of course, I’m close with (wide receivers coach) Sean Ryan, (offensive line coach) Pat Flaherty and (tight ends coach) Kevin M. Gilbride. He has a comfort level with those guys and they were able to tell him what I’m about and how I work. I hit it off real well with him on the phone. He seemed like a great guy and did a heck of a job trying to change so much with a new system, new scheme and really got Eli doing a lot of good things. I’m just really excited to get back in the fold there and work with Eli."

During Sullivan's two years as quarterbacks coach Manning completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 8,935 yards, 60 touchdowns, 41 interceptions and a passer rating of 89.2. He had career-high totals of 31 touchdown passes in 2010 and 4,933 yards the following season, when the Giants won their second Super Bowl with Manning as quarterback. It is impossible to prove that there was a correlation, but Manning's performance fell off the two seasons after Sullivan left for Tampa Bay.

"I have a great working relationship with coach Sullivan," Manning said. "It will be good to have him back on the staff and back in the quarterback room."

There are, of course, differences in the offensive philosophy and the quarterback fundamentals from the last time Sullivan was with the Giants. The dynamic of an old coach Manning has had success with and a new offensive he thrived in should be interesting.