Pat Sullivan was a talented American football quarterback who played for various teams during his career. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and attended high school in the same city. Sullivan was a standout player in high school, and he went on to play college football at Auburn University.
At Auburn, Sullivan had a remarkable career. He was the starting quarterback for three seasons, from 1969 to 1971, and he set numerous records during that time. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1971, which is awarded to the best player in college football. Sullivan was the first player from Auburn to win the award, and he remains one of the most beloved players in the school's history.
After college, Sullivan was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 1972 NFL Draft. He played for the Falcons for four seasons, from 1972 to 1975, but he was never able to establish himself as a starting quarterback. He was traded to the Washington Redskins in 1976, but he only played in one game for them before being released.
Sullivan then signed with the San Francisco 49ers, where he played for two seasons, from 1976 to 1977. He was the backup quarterback to Steve DeBerg during that time, and he only played in a handful of games. Sullivan's final NFL season was in 1978, when he played for the Washington Redskins again. He retired from football after that season.
After his playing career was over, Sullivan became a coach. He started out as an assistant coach at Auburn, where he had played in college. He then became the head coach at Texas Christian University (TCU) in 1992. Sullivan had a successful tenure at TCU, leading the team to a 24-42 record over six seasons.
Sullivan then became the head coach at Samford University, a small school in Birmingham, Alabama. He coached there for eight seasons, from 2007 to 2014, and he had a record of 47-41 during that time. Sullivan was beloved by his players and fans, and he was known for his positive attitude and his dedication to the game of football.
Unfortunately, Sullivan passed away in 2019 at the age of 69. He had been battling cancer for several years, and his death was a great loss to the football community. Sullivan was remembered as a great player and coach, and as a kind and generous person who had a positive impact on everyone he met.
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