Pete McCulley

Pete McCulley (November 29, 1931 – November 25, 1992) was an American football coach. He served as the head coach of the National Football League (NFL)'s San Francisco 49ers for the first nine games of the 1978 season. Winning only one game during that span, he was fired and replaced with Fred O'Connor.

College career McCulley was a two-year letterman as quarterback at Louisiana Tech in 1954 and 1955.

He began his coaching career as an assistant at Stephen F. Austin, followed by two years as backfield coach at the University of Houston in 1960 and 1961. He was later quarterbacks and receivers coach at both Baylor from 1963 to 1969 and on Rick Forzano's staff at Navy from 1970 to 1972.

Professional career He entered the NFL as receivers coach on Howard Schnellenberger's staff with the Baltimore Colts in 1973. His departure from the Colts was a result of the January 21, 1977 dismissal of general manager Joe Thomas who had lost a power struggle to Marchibroda over player personnel decisions. McCulley joined George Allen's staff with the Washington Redskins as receivers coach two weeks later on February 4.

After a season with the Redskins, he signed a three-year contract as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers on January 10, 1978, succeeding Ken Meyer who had been fired earlier that day. He was reunited with Thomas who had been appointed 49ers general manager upon Edward J. DeBartolo Sr.'s purchase of the franchise prior to the 1977 season. McCulley had actually been Thomas' first choice just after he had joined the Redskins one year earlier. Allen denied Thomas permission to contact McCulley then, but eventually relented with a recommendation.

He joined Walt Michaels' staff with the New York Jets as receivers coach on February 5, 1979, succeeding Dan Henning who had moved on to the Miami Dolphins. His dismissal from the Jets four years later on February 10, 1983, was one of the first acts as new head coach for Joe Walton, successor to Michaels whose retirement had been announced the previous day.

McCulley was named quarterbacks coach with the Kansas City Chiefs on February 17, 1983. In his first season with the ballclub, he played a key role in the development of Bill Kenney into a Pro Bowl quarterback. His four years with John Mackovic's staff ended on January 12, 1987, when new Chiefs coach Frank Gansz, who replaced the fired Mackovic, elected not to retain him.

Later life McCulley was the head coach of the Finland national American football team when it was European Championship of American football finalists in 1989 and 1991. He was to have served in a similar capacity with the Miami Tribe in the Professional Spring Football League.

Head coaching record