Being an elite-level athlete has its perks, but it’s easy to take for granted the person on the inside.
The Journal sat down with Queen’s Football’s all-time leader in field goals, as of Sept. 12, and current kicker for the Gaels, Tyler Mullan, ArtSci ’27.
Mullan’s love for sports started at a very young age. Son of a football coach in North Bay, Ont., there was always a connection to football.
“I grew up playing sports hockey and soccer, but when that ended, I was always hanging around my dad’s team,” Mullen said. It was here where he would find his love for football.
It wasn’t a linear path for Mullen, who went to a different high school than the one his dad coached at, but that desire to play for him didn’t go away.
“I ended up going to his high school in grade nine, but it only lasted a year as that high school closed.”
While Mullan’s first choice wasn’t kicking, one of his coaches knew he had a good leg that had potential.
“I was always pretty good at kicking, and my coach kept backing me up and he said you should probably take this seriously.”
Not only was he the kicker back in North Bay, but he also played all three phases including wide receiver and defensive back.
“I like to say for a North Bay guy, I was pretty good, my ticket was really kicking,” Mullan joked about his high school football days.
In Grade 10, going off of the advice from his coaches and his dad, he decided to take kicking seriously. He and another athlete from North Bay, who later became the kicker for the Western Mustangs, travelled to London to work with a specialist to improve and strengthen his game.
“My parents would drive me once or twice a month to get some serious work in.”
It was two years later in his final year of high school where Queen’s became interested in Mullan.
“Queen’s started pursuing me and it started as a show [to] brag to my buddies, but once Queen’s really recruiting me, I fell in love pretty quickly.”
Mullan added that it was “a pretty easy decision.”
During his first year at Queen’s, he wasn’t expected to be a starter due to a more senior kicker on the team.
However, the other kicker ended up getting hurt in an exhibition game prior to the season, opening up the door for Mullan.
He ended up taking the job and running with it, kicking a perfect 23 for 23 field goals during the 2023-23 season.
“A huge part of it was the camaraderie with the guys, pretty much everyone from the fifth-years to the first-years brought me in as one of their own and made me feel so comfortable.”
His second season did not have the same success.
He remembers a game where he missed three field goals, including “a short game winning field goal.” Despite the hardships, his teammates and coaching staff supported him and, through the adversity, he was able to gain experience and lessons that he’s applied into his last three years at Queen’s.
Not only has Queen’s turned him into the kicker he is today, but he’s also had outside help as well; including from CFL legend and seven-time Grey Cup champion Hank Ilesic.
“Hank was able to unlock my work ethic and understand the opportunity that I have, as well as getting stronger which the results have come to fruition now.”
Now, as a fifth-year kicker, he is being talked about in every interview with his coaches and teammates who have given him the nickname “Money Mullan.”
As his time at Queen’s comes to an end, he’s reminiscent about his memories at Queen’s, including his house on Jonhson Street and winning his first trophy in Football, the Yates Cup.
With his support from his parents, who don’t miss a game, Mullan aims to add to his already illustrious Gaels career this season.
Tags
Football, Get to know your gaels, Tyler Mullan
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