Raiders quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan sets the tone for Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza

The Raiders’ offseason coaching focus is centering on quarterback development, and the centerpiece of that work sits with quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan. In a Q&A published by the team, Sullivan describes his role in shaping how the Raiders’ quarterbacks prepare, practice, and play within the organization’s system. The emphasis matters not only because the position is the engine of every offense, but because the Raiders are building day-to-day continuity with veteran leadership and a young-to-mid stage quarterback group.

Sullivan’s appointment carries pedigree. The team’s Q&A frames him as a two-time Super Bowl-winning coach, a credential that speaks to sustained experience in high-pressure environments. Coaches with that kind of résumé typically bring an emphasis on process, repeatable mechanics, and game-week preparation. For the Raiders, the practical goal is to ensure that quarterback decisions translate cleanly from walkthroughs to live action, especially in situations that demand quick adjustments.

The Raiders’ quarterback room includes Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza, both of whom are explicitly referenced in the team’s announcement and Q&A setup. Cousins, as an established NFL quarterback, represents stability and experienced decision-making, while Mendoza represents the developmental track that teams rely on to keep their long-term quarterback timeline moving. Sullivan’s position as quarterbacks coach puts him at the center of how those responsibilities are divided and reinforced, including how the Raiders expect their quarterbacks to handle protections, reads, and down-to-down variations.

Just as important is how the Raiders plan to implement the coaching staff. The Q&A is part of a series of interviews with position coaches, a sign the team wants its coaching message to be consistent across units. That matters for quarterbacks because quarterbacks do not work in isolation. Their progress is tied to how the offensive line communicates, how receivers run routes and adjust, and how the run game sets up pass protection and play-action timing. A quarterbacks coach, in that sense, acts as a connector between the quarterback’s mental plan and the offense’s physical execution.

While the Q&A is positioned as an introduction, the underlying themes reflect the job’s core reality: quarterback development is as much about structure as it is about talent. That usually includes the way quarterbacks study film, the way practice reps are prioritized, and the feedback loop after each day and each sequence. For fans, the most actionable takeaway from a staff introduction is often what will be measured and repeated. For Sullivan, the work is aimed at tightening the link between preparation and performance, so that the quarterback can make decisions faster and more confidently.

The Raiders’ immediate priority is therefore straightforward. They need their quarterback group to understand the same rules in the same way, to trust what the offense is asking them to do, and to communicate efficiently at the line of scrimmage. With Cousins leading the veteran side and Mendoza continuing his development, Sullivan’s coaching role becomes the bridge between experience and growth, with the goal of reducing hesitation and improving consistency as the team moves through the calendar.