Michigan State Defensive Coordinator Won’t Explain His Mysterious Suspension For Rules Violation In 2013

Max Bullough was hired as the new defensive coordinator at Michigan State in December. He is choosing not to discussion his suspension from the college football team he now coaches in 2013.

The past is in the past and his focus is only on the future.

We still do not know what prevented Bullough from playing his final college football game as a Spartan in 2013. The violation of team rules remains unexplained.

Who is Max Bullough?

At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, Bullough was rated as a four-star prospect in the recruiting Class of 2010. The Traverse City, Michigan-native ranked as the No. 14 player at his position out of St. Francis High School.

He ultimately committed to Michigan State over Iowa, Stanford, UCLA, Wisconsin and Notre Dame.

Bullough played four seasons for the Spartans and finished with 299 total tackles (120 solo), 8 sacks, 31 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions and 4 forced fumbles over the course of his career. The dominant middle linebacker earned First Team All-Big Ten honors as a team captain as a junior and senior.

From there, Bullough went on to play three years in the NFL with the Houston Texans. He later spent a few months with the Cleveland Browns in 2018 before he transitioned to the sideline.

Max Bullough got his start as a coach as a graduate assistant at Cincinnati and spent three seasons in the same role at Alabama from 2020-2022 and one season in the same role at Notre Dame in 2023. Marcus Freeman promoted him to linebackers coach in 2024.

The 34-year-old received his second promotion in three seasons in December. Pat Fitzgerald hired him as the new linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator at his alma mater.

Why was he suspended at Michigan State?

Although Bullough was one of the most dominant defensive players in recent Spartans history, his career came to an unfortunate end. Mark Dantonio suspended the senior linebacker for a violation of team rules prior to the Rose Bowl on Dec. 26, 2013. Michigan State won the game without him but it was weird.

The head coach did not say what rules were violated. All he said was that “it is extremely disappointing for all parties involved.” Nothing more.

That was more than 12 years ago. The reason for his suspension still remains unstated. Nobody knows!

Bullough was suspended for the first four games of the 2017 NFL season because he violated the policy on performance-enhancing substances, so people have tried to connect the dots… but that is pure (unfounded) speculation and nothing is confirmed. It is still a well-kept secret.

Max Bullough was finally asked about what happened at a press conference on Tuesday. However, he will not comment further on what happened in 2013. Nor does he use his suspension as a teaching point.