Along with the announcement of Kacy Rodgers as their new defensive coordinator, the Jets have named Bobby April special teams coach.
April has been in college and professional coaching since 1979 at Tulane university where he coached TE’s. Since then he’s had stops at Arizona, USC and Ohio State.
His first NFL job was with the Atlanta Falcons in 1991 as their special teams coach. The Jets will be his seventh NFL since that time as he takes over a unit that had its share of struggles last season.
According to NFL statistical analysis site PFF.com, only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were less efficient on special teams than the Raiders last season, ranking 31st while the Jets came in at 19th. April however, has had some remarkably successful seasons as he was named NFL special teams coach of the year in both 2004 and 2008.
The additions of Rodgers and April fill two of the bigger vacancies on Todd Bowles’ staff as he continues to assemble his own team of assistants in preparation for his first season as a head coach.