Bobby April III

College career

April III began his coaching career in 2004 as a student assistant for the Louisiana–Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns.^[1] He then became a graduate assistant for the Tulane Green Wave from 2005 to 2006.^[1] In 2007, April III became the special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach for the Portland State Vikings through 2009.^[2] In 2010, he was special teams coordinator and safeties coach for the Nicholls State Colonels.^[3][4]

In 2018, April III returned to college football as outside linebackers coach / co-defensive coordinator for the Wisconsin Badgers.^[1][2] He became the defensive coordinator for Stanford Cardinal in 2023, in addition to his duties as the outside linebackers coach.^[5]

Professional career

April III was defensive quality control coach for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2011 to 2012.^[6][7] In 2013, April III moved to the New York Jets as defensive quality control coach and assistant linebacker coach.^[7] In 2014, he was promoted to linebackers coach with the Jets.^[8] In 2015, April III moved with Rex Ryan from the Jets to the Buffalo Bills and continued to serve as linebackers coach through 2016.^[6][9]

On February 1, 2026, April III returned to the Buffalo Bills as the team's new outside linebackers coach, under head coach Joe Brady. April III had accepted a position to be the defensive ends coach with Minnesota in the college ranks only a month earlier.^[10]

April earned his bachelor's degree in sports management from Louisiana-Lafayette.^[7] He is the son of Bobby April Jr., a former NFL and college special teams coordinator.^[7]