“Thank you, Pittsburgh": Mike Sullivan leaves Pittsburgh Penguins with emotional billboard message

Mike Sullivan has left the Pittsburgh Penguins as the head coach after leading the franchise to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017. But his departure was not without a touching farewell to the city, as this week saw billboards across Pittsburgh with a special message. The heart-touching message celebrates his decade-long tenure with the Penguins fanbase, even as he takes on a new challenge with the New York Rangers .
Mike Sullivan's emotional farewell captures his bond with Pittsburgh Penguins

To: Pittsburgh

🖤💛 Sully pic.twitter.com/mTsTaEkdgp

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) May 28, 2025

Pittsburgh woke up this week to a touching farewell by Mike Sullivan, former head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Several billboards were seen around town featuring a strong picture of Sullivan cradling the Stanley Cup with a simple yet emotional statement: “Thank you, Pittsburgh. Cup family is forever.”
Mike Sullivan's hold on the Pittsburgh Penguins cannot be questioned. In a stretch of over a decade, he broke down as the team's all-time leader in wins, 409 of 753 games. His record is one of leading the Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cup titles in 2016 and 2017—a stretch that established the team's new-generation identity.
Mike Sullivan leaves for New York Rangers as Pittsburgh Penguins begin new chapter
Though Sullivan’s tenure ended following a rough three-year stretch, including a disappointing 2024-25 campaign that saw the team register its fewest wins in nearly two decades, his legacy remains intact. He took the team to the playoffs in his first seven seasons and helped shape a generation of Penguins hockey.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have yet to announce a successor, and the fans and analysts are left to question what the team will do next as it struggles to rebuild and return to playoff relevance.
Also read: Mike Sullivan’s final message says everything about his bond with Pittsburgh
Mike Sullivan may be behind the bench coaching the New York Rangers now, but his heartfelt billboard farewell to the city of Pittsburgh serves as a reminder that there are some things that run much deeper than the ice. His on-ice success with the Pittsburgh Penguins is seared into the city's sports history, and his farewell message—"Cup family is forever"—rings out as both gratitude and a lasting vow of respect and bonding.