Quarterbacks – Greg Knapp
Knapp has 31 years of coaching experience, including 22 in the NFL. He has coached an incredible five different 4,000-yard NFL passers as either OC or QB coach: Steve Young, Jeff Garcia, Matt Schaub, Carson Palmer, and Peyton Manning. Additionally, Knapp coordinated the Falcons offense from 2004-2006, resulting in a trip to the NFC Championship in 2004 with the league's #1 ranked rushing offense three years in a row.
Assistant Offensive Line – Paul Dunn
After two seasons as a collegiate graduate assistant, Paul Dunn spent 25 years as an NCAA OL coach before making the jump to the NFL, where he coached OL from 2008-2015. He recently coached All-Pro Offensive Tackles Joe Thomas (Browns) and Duane Brown (Texans).
[dt_divider style='thick' /]Defensive Staff
Defensive Coordinator – Rex Ryan
Certainly the most well-known name on this list, Rex Ryan has 30 years of coaching experience, including eight as an NFL HC, and is the Jets' all-time leader in playoff wins (4). Prior to becoming a head coach, Ryan spent 10 seasons in Baltimore, the final four as defensive coordinator, and coached standout players like Ray Lewis, Tony Siragusa, Terrell Suggs, Ed Reed, Bart Scott, and Haloti Ngata, and won Super Bowl XXXV.
Senior Defensive Assistant – Eric Mangini
After impressing Bill Belichick as a Cleveland Browns ball-boy, Eric Mangini earned his first coaching job in 1995, where he was infamously a part of the Browns' 'Slappies' who went on to have very successful NFL coaching and scouting careers. Mangini coached in the NFL for the next 21 years, and won three Super Bowls as the Patriots' DB coach. Along with coaching under Bill Belichick, Mangini has served under Bill Parcells, Jim Harbaugh, and most recently Jim Tomsula.
Defensive Line – Bryan Cox
A three-time All-Pro Linebacker and Super Bowl XXXVI Champion, Bryan Cox recorded over 50 career sacks in 12 NFL seasons. He has coached DL/pass rush in the NFL for the past nine seasons and is just 49 years old. Notable players he has coached include Jason Taylor (MIA), Cameron Wake (MIA), Michael Bennett (TB), Gerald McCoy (TB), Osi Umenyiora (ATL), and Vic Beasley (ATL). His son, Bryan Cox Jr. will be a rookie DE this season for the Carolina Panthers.
Linebackers – Pepper Johnson
The 1986 second-round LB from Ohio State accumulated nearly 1,000 tackles during his 13-year NFL career and was a two-time Pro Bowler. He won two Super Bowls as a player with the Giants and won 3 Super Bowls as a Patriots' assistant coach. Johnson spent six seasons coaching linebackers in New England, where he coached Tedy Bruschi, Dont'a Hightower, and Jerod Mayo. He has also coached defensive lines for 11 year in the NFL and has tutored many stars, including Richard Seymour (NE), Vince Wilfork (NE), Mario Williams (BUF), Marcell Dareus (BUF), and Muhammad Wilkerson (NYJ).
Front 7 Assistant – Bobby April III
Son of longtime college and NFL special teams coach and current LSUspecial teams analyst Bobby April, Bobby April III has spent the past six seasons as an NFL defensive assistant after six seasons as a defensive and special teams assistant at the collegiate level. He's just 35 and has a bright future. His most recent position was linebackers coach for Rex Ryan with the Buffalo Bills.
Defensive Backs – Ray Horton
A 10-year NFL defensive back and former second round pick, Horton won Super Bowl XXVII as a safety with the Cowboys and won Super Bowls XL and XLIII as the Steelers' DB coach. He began his coaching career with Washingtonin 1994 under Norv Turner and has coached 23 years in the NFL, including 17 in the secondary and the last six as a defensive coordinator. Notable players he has coached include Darrell Green (WAS), Dre' Bly (DET), Troy Polamalu (PIT), Patrick Peterson (ARZ), and Joe Haden (CLE). His last coaching gig was defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns in 2016.
Defensive Backs – Donnie Henderson
The 33-year coaching vet has 18 years of collegiate experience as a defensive assistant and 15 years of NFL experience as a DB coach and defensive coordinator. His most recent position was with the Buffalo Bills under Rex Ryan from 2013-2016. Henderson served as a head coach for one of four teams during the six-game Spring League in West Virginia in 2017.
Special Teams Staff
Special Teams Coordinator – Bobby April
A Louisiana native and graduate of Nicholls State University, where he played linebacker, Bobby April enters his 39th season as a college or NFL coach and his first as LSU's special teams analyst. He was an offensive and defensive position coach early in his coaching career before spending the past 26 years as special teams coordinator on nine different NFL teams. April was named the NFL's Special Teams Coach of the Year by his peers in 2004 and 2008. He has coached standout returners Deion Sanders (ATL) and Rod Woodson (PIT), along with Pro Bowl kickers David Akers (PHI), Jeff Wilkins (STL), and Norm Johnson (ATL). His son, Bobby April III, is also on this list.
Assistant Special Teams Coordinator – Kevin Spencer
One of Kevin Spencer's first coaching jobs was at Division III Wesleyan University, where he coached Eric Mangini. Spencer then began his NFL career with the Browns under Bill Belichick in 1991 and has since coached for five other NFL teams, mostly in special teams roles. As a member of the Steelers, he was named Special Teams Coach of the Year in 2003 and won Super Bowl XL in 2006.
Follow Dan on Twitter @Dan_Hatman
Dan Hatman is the Director of The Scouting Academy and writes for Inside The Pylon when not teaching future football scouts and coaches how to do their job.
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