Matthew Mulligan

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Matthew Mulligan

| image = Matthew Mulligan.JPG

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Mulligan with the New York Jets in 2011

| current_team =

| number = 82, 88, 85, 89

| position = Tight end

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|1|18}}

| birth_place = Bangor, Maine, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lbs = 258

| high_school = Penobscot Valley {{nowrap|(Howland, Maine)}}

| college = Maine

| undraftedyear = 2008

| pastteams =

Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2008}})*
Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2008}}–{{NFL Year|2009}})*
New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2009}}–{{NFL Year|2011}})
St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2012}})
Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|2013}})*
New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2013}})
Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2014}})
Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2014}})
Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2014}})
Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2015}})
Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2016}})

| status =

| statweek =

| statseason =

| statlabel3 = Receptions

| statvalue3 = 18

| statlabel4 = Receiving yards

| statvalue4 = 170

| statlabel5 = Receiving touchdowns

| statvalue5 = 2

| pfr = MullMa00

}}

Matthew Ben Mulligan (born January 18, 1985) is a former American football tight end. He played college football at The University of Maine. Mulligan was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He was also a member of the Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, and Detroit Lions. He currently serves as a volunteer strength and conditioning coach for the Maine Black Bears.{{cite web|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2021/07/04/matthew-mulligan-comes-full-circle-as-a-volunteer-coach-with-black-bears/ |title=Matthew Mulligan comes full circle as a volunteer coach with Black Bears — Sports — Portland Press Herald|publisher=Pressherald.com |date= July 4, 2021|accessdate=July 10, 2021}}

Early life

Mulligan lived in Enfield, Maine and attended high school at Penobscot Valley High School in Howland, Maine. After high school, he enrolled at Husson University. Despite never playing the sport in high school, Mulligan joined Husson's football team as a tight end and thrived, transferring to the University of Maine the following season.

Professional career

=Miami Dolphins=

Mulligan was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He was released from the Dolphins on August 30 during final cuts. However, the Dolphins re-signed him to the practice squad the following day. Mulligan remained on the practice squad until his release on November 5.

=Tennessee Titans (first stint)=

Mulligan was signed to the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans on November 19, 2008. Following the season, he was re-signed to a future contract on January 12. The Titans waived him on September 4.

=New York Jets=

Mulligan was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on September 6, 2009. He was waived on September 23. He was re-signed to the practice squad on September 24. He was promoted to the active roster on December 2.{{cite web|url=http://bangordailynews.com/2012/03/22/sports/umaine-seniors-showcase-skills-for-nfl-scouts/?ref=mostReadBoxSports |title=UMaine seniors showcase skills for NFL scouts — Sports — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine |publisher=Bangordailynews.com |date= March 22, 2012|accessdate=March 24, 2012}}

=St. Louis Rams=

The St. Louis Rams signed Mulligan on March 26, 2012.{{cite web|title=Rams Sign Smith, Three More |url=http://prod.www.rams.clubs.nfl.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Sign-Smith-Three-More/ba2dee1c-f0b4-4326-b727-d57ad0a88fe7 |publisher=St. Louis Rams |author=Wagoner, Nick |date=March 26, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203134439/http://prod.www.rams.clubs.nfl.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Sign-Smith-Three-More/ba2dee1c-f0b4-4326-b727-d57ad0a88fe7 |archivedate=December 3, 2013 |accessdate=March 27, 2012 |url-status=dead }} After one season with the team, Mulligan was released on March 23, 2013.

=Green Bay Packers=

Mulligan was signed by the Green Bay Packers on April 9, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/packers-sign-te-mulligan/8f02e9c4-0fc7-4f56-a4d4-6809c0917356|title=Packers sign TE Mulligan|work=Packers.com|date=April 9, 2013|accessdate=November 18, 2016|archive-date=November 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119061153/http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/packers-sign-te-mulligan/8f02e9c4-0fc7-4f56-a4d4-6809c0917356|url-status=dead}} On August 31, 2013, he was released by the Packers during final team cuts.{{cite web|url=https://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/packers-release-22-players/a673c538-966f-4aee-bb81-d0fe8fc5fbc7|title=Packers release 22 players|work=Packers.com|date=August 31, 2013|accessdate=November 18, 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009001519/http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Packers-release-22-players/a673c538-966f-4aee-bb81-d0fe8fc5fbc7|archivedate=October 9, 2016}}

=New England Patriots=

On September 3, 2013, the New England Patriots signed Mulligan, but released him just two days later.{{Cite web |url=http://www.patriots.com/news/article-1/Patriots-release-OL-Braxston-Cave-and-TE-Matthew-Mulligan/546e5699-29a8-414d-8fa7-272a9bab009c |title=Patriots release OL Braxston Cave and TE Matthew Mulligan |access-date=September 5, 2013 |archive-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130907185209/http://www.patriots.com/news/article-1/Patriots-release-OL-Braxston-Cave-and-TE-Matthew-Mulligan/546e5699-29a8-414d-8fa7-272a9bab009c |url-status=dead }} The Patriots re-signed him on September 10. On September 29, 2013, he caught the last touchdown pass of Tom Brady's 52 straight games (two shy of the NFL record) with at least one passing touchdown.

=Chicago Bears=

On April 8, 2014, Mulligan was signed by the Chicago Bears to a one-year deal.{{cite web|last=Wilkening|first=Mike|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/08/bears-reach-deal-with-matthew-mulligan/|title=Bears reach deal with TE Matthew Mulligan|publisher=Profootballtalk.com|date=April 8, 2014|accessdate=April 8, 2014}} On September 16, 2014, his contract was terminated by the Chicago Bears.{{cite web|last=Campbell|first=Rich|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-bears-isaiah-frey-rashad-ross-20140916-story.html/|title=Bears promote cornerback Frey, returner Ross from practice squad|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=September 15, 2014|accessdate=September 15, 2014}}

=Arizona Cardinals=

Mulligan signed with the Arizona Cardinals on November 18, 2014.{{cite web|last1=Alper|first1=Josh|title=Cardinals sign Matthew Mulligan, place Troy Niklas on injured reserve|date=November 18, 2014 |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/11/18/cardinals-sign-matthew-mulligan-place-troy-niklas-on-injured-reserve/|publisher=Pro Football Talk|accessdate=November 18, 2014}} He was released on December 5, 2014.

=Tennessee Titans (second stint)=

On December 16, 2014, Mulligan signed with the Titans.{{cite web | title=Titans Place TE Brett Brackett on IR; Sign TE Matthew Mulligan to Active Roster | website=TennesseeTitans.com | date=2014-12-16 | url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-place-te-brett-brackett-on-ir-sign-te-matthew-mulligan-to-active-14592396 | access-date=2025-05-18}}

=Buffalo Bills=

On June 18, 2015, Mulligan signed with the Buffalo Bills.{{cite web|last1=Capaccio|first1=Sal|title=Bills sign TE Mulligan, release DB Noel|url=http://www.wgr550.com/Bills-sign-TE-Mulligan-release-DB-Noel/21652295|publisher=WGR550|accessdate=July 22, 2015}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} On December 8, 2015, Mulligan was released by the Bills after Nick O'Leary was promoted from the practice squad.{{Cite web |url=http://bills.buffalonews.com/2015/12/08/bills-make-a-te-switch-matthew-mulligan-is-out-nick-oleary-is-in/ |title=Bills make a TE switch: Matthew Mulligan is out, Nick O'Leary is in - BN Blitz |access-date=December 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210044137/http://bills.buffalonews.com/2015/12/08/bills-make-a-te-switch-matthew-mulligan-is-out-nick-oleary-is-in/ |archive-date=December 10, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

=Detroit Lions=

On April 4, 2016, Mulligan signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions.{{cite web |url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/news-short/article-1/Lions-sign-free-agents-DE-Wallace-Gilberry-and-TE-Matthew-Mulligan/de9ccbbb-e1f3-472a-a743-9e98073cfb98 |title=Lions sign free agents DE Wallace Gilberry and TE Matthew Mulligan |work=Detroit Lions |date=April 4, 2016 |accessdate=April 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407010457/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/news-short/article-1/Lions-sign-free-agents-DE-Wallace-Gilberry-and-TE-Matthew-Mulligan/de9ccbbb-e1f3-472a-a743-9e98073cfb98 |archive-date=April 7, 2016 |url-status=dead }} On August 29, 2016, Mulligan was released by the Lions.{{cite web|title=Lions acquire G Brandon Thomas via trade with 49ers and announce additional roster moves|url=http://www.detroitlions.com/news/news-short/article-1/Lions-acquire-G-Brandon-Thomas-via-trade-with-49ers-and-announce-additional-roster-moves/5ccf08ad-5216-487d-bb46-98d147e31d41|website=DetroitLions.com|access-date=September 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901170951/http://www.detroitlions.com/news/news-short/article-1/Lions-acquire-G-Brandon-Thomas-via-trade-with-49ers-and-announce-additional-roster-moves/5ccf08ad-5216-487d-bb46-98d147e31d41|archive-date=September 1, 2016|url-status=dead}} He was re-signed by the Lions on November 1, 2016.{{cite web|title=Lions sign TE Matthew Mulligan and acquire CB Johnthan Banks via trade|url=https://www.detroitlions.com/news/lions-sign-te-matthew-mulligan-and-acquire-cb-johnthan-banks-via-trade-17999779|website=DetroitLions.com|date=November 1, 2016}}