Patrick Sullivan (American football executive)
Encyclopedia
Patrick "Pat" Sullivan is a former American football executive who served as General Manager of the New England Patriots
from 1983 to 1990.
, Sullivan was a ballboy for the first Boston Patriots team.
In 1976 he graduated from Boston College
.
. In 1979 he was named Assistant General Manager. On February 17, 1983, Sullivan was promoted to general manager.
During his tenure as GM, the Patriots had a 66–65 record and made the playoffs twice, including an appearance in Super Bowl XX
.
After the Patriots 1985 Divisional Playoff victory against the Los Angeles Raiders, Sullivan was struck by Raiders linebacker Matt Millen
on the head with a helmet. Millen hit Sullivan in retaliation for Sullivan's heckling of Raider Howie Long
from the sidelines.
After Boston Herald reporter Lisa Olson
complained of being sexually harassed in the Patriots' locker room, team chairman and majority owner Victor Kiam
sought to suspend Sullivan. However, National Football League Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
stepped in and prevented the suspension.
On December 20, 1990, Kiam named Sam Jankovich
named CEO of the Patriots and gave him complete control of the organization. On January 29, Sullivan announced his resignation.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
from 1983 to 1990.
Early life
The son of Patriots founder Billy SullivanBilly Sullivan (American football)
William Hallissey "Billy" Sullivan, Jr. was an American businessman who owned the Boston Patriots franchise from their inception in the American Football League until their sale, as the New England Patriots of the NFL, to Victor Kiam in 1988.-Early life:Sullivan was born in Lowell, Massachusetts...
, Sullivan was a ballboy for the first Boston Patriots team.
In 1976 he graduated from Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
.
New England Patriots
After graduating college, Sullivan spent two years as the manager of Schaefer StadiumFoxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...
. In 1979 he was named Assistant General Manager. On February 17, 1983, Sullivan was promoted to general manager.
During his tenure as GM, the Patriots had a 66–65 record and made the playoffs twice, including an appearance in Super Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX was an American football championship game played on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1985 regular season...
.
After the Patriots 1985 Divisional Playoff victory against the Los Angeles Raiders, Sullivan was struck by Raiders linebacker Matt Millen
Matt Millen
Matthew George "Matt" Millen is an American former National Football League linebacker and a former executive. Millen played for the Oakland Raiders, the San Francisco 49ers and the Washington Redskins. In Millen's 12-year NFL playing career, he played on four Super Bowl-winning teams...
on the head with a helmet. Millen hit Sullivan in retaliation for Sullivan's heckling of Raider Howie Long
Howie Long
Howard "Howie" Matthew Moses Long is an American former National Football League defensive end and actor. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000...
from the sidelines.
After Boston Herald reporter Lisa Olson
Lisa Olson
Lisa Olson is an American sportswriter and a national sports columnist for AOL Fanhouse. Her work has been featured in the anthology, "The Best American Sports Writing"...
complained of being sexually harassed in the Patriots' locker room, team chairman and majority owner Victor Kiam
Victor Kiam
Victor K. Kiam was an American entrepreneur and the owner of the New England Patriots football team from 1988-1991....
sought to suspend Sullivan. However, National Football League Commissioner Paul Tagliabue
Paul Tagliabue
Paul John Tagliabue is a former Commissioner of the National Football League. He took the position in 1989 and was succeeded by Roger Goodell, who was elected to the position on August 8, 2006. Tagliabue's retirement took effect on September 1, 2006. He had previously served as a lawyer for the NFL...
stepped in and prevented the suspension.
On December 20, 1990, Kiam named Sam Jankovich
Sam Jankovich
Sam Jankovich, a Butte, Montana native is sports administrator that has held several positions including athletic director at the Washington State and the University of Miami...
named CEO of the Patriots and gave him complete control of the organization. On January 29, Sullivan announced his resignation.