It’s been two days, and the news of Max Bullough being hired as Michigan State’s co-defensive coordinator along with Joe Rossi still has Spartan fans grinning from ear to ear.
Fans had been begging for Bullough to be hired as the program’s next defensive coordinator, but that dream looked to be dead when Rossi was announced as a retained coach. Pat Fitzgerald pulled off the biggest move since being hired as head coach late on Wednesday night, poaching the Spartan legend from Notre Dame.
The move sent shockwaves through the Michigan State and Notre Dame fanbases, but not a single bad word was spoken about Bullough by either side. Irish fans thanked him for his service and Michigan State fans welcomed him with open arms.
The promotion from linebackers coach to also co-defensive coordinator at his alma mater was just too good to pass up, and while it may seem like a stretch since Bullough hasn’t led an entire defense at the collegiate level, he still fits like a glove in East Lansing.
He’s home.
And for anyone worried about what kind of coach he’s going to be, he has the ringing endorsement of one of the best coaches in the NFL.
Mike Vrabel calls Max Bullough the smartest player he’s ever coached
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel appeared on Taylor Lewan’s Bussin’ With the Boys podcast a couple of years back while he was still head coach of the Titans, and he was asked by the former Michigan offensive lineman who the smartest player that he ever coached was.
His answer? Ben Jones… and then Max Bullough.
The old clip resurfaced thanks to Matt Sheehan on Twitter right after Bullough was hired by Fitzgerald to be Michigan State’s co-defensive coordinator.
This clip has been burnt into my brain for some time now
— Fireball sommelier (@Sheehan_Sports) December 11, 2025
Of all players Vrabel could’ve said, he went with Max Bullough pic.twitter.com/xBAQKQldjd
Talk about one heck of a coaching endorsement. He could have said a million other high-profile names, but he rattled off Bullough’s, much to the surprise of Lewan (you’d think he would know firsthand).
Vrabel, who has been considered one of the NFL’s better coaches, worked with the linebackers in Houston back 2014-2016 before becoming the team’s defensive coordinator in 2017, and he has been around some incredibly smart players. Bullough is at the top of that list.
For anyone who was worried about Bullough biting off more than he can chew with his new coordinator role in East Lansing, just know that one of the NFL’s best minds believes that the former Michigan State captain and Big Ten champion is arguably the smartest player he’s ever coached.
Bullough had “future coach” written all over him.