A.J. Neibel

A.J. Neibel, who holds 15 years of NFL experience in the sports performance and strength and conditioning realm, enters his second season as head strength and conditioning coach of the Raiders.

Neibel, who previously spent six seasons with the Silver and Black (2003-08), returned to the Raiders in 2019. In his role, Neibel helped produce two Pro Bowlers in T Trent Brown and C Rodney Hudson. The two paved the way for RB Josh Jacobs, the first-ever 1,000-yard rookie rusher in team history, while helping the club surrender just 29 sacks on the year, good for eighth-fewest in the NFL.

Neibel and his staff also excelled in helping the 2019 rookie class make the transition from college to the NFL, as the Raiders rookies combined to lead the NFL in scrimmage touchdowns (17) amongst their rookie peers. The Raiders rookies also ranked first in sacks (14.5), yards after the catch (676), rushing yards (1,167), rushing touchdowns (seven) and rushing first downs (60), while ranking second in receptions (107) and receiving yards (1,112).

Neibel's return to the Raiders came after spending the previous two seasons (2017-18) with the Jacksonville Jaguars as the club's athletic performance specialist/physical therapy assistant. In his role with the Jaguars, Neibel assisted both the medical and strength and conditioning staff transition players from injury back into participation, while helping manage performance data for the team's coaching staff. The team garnered eight Pro Bowl selections over two seasons under Neibel's guidance.

Prior to his stint with the Jaguars, Neibel spent six years (2011-16) with the Atlanta Falcons in a variety of roles. Over his five years with the club, the Falcons earned 21 total Pro Bowl selections under Neibel's direction, including four from WR Julio Jones (2012, 2014-16), and three apiece from TE Tony Gonzalez (2011-13) and QB Matt Ryan (2012, 2014, 2016).

In 2016, Neibel was tabbed as the club's athletic performance manager after serving as the team's head strength and conditioning coach during the previous three seasons (2013-15). In his first two seasons (2011-12) with the Falcons, Neibel was on staff as strength and conditioning assistant. Before joining the club, Neibel spent time working for the Atlanta Falcons' Therapy Center in Snellville, Ga.

Prior to Atlanta, Neibel also worked in the Bay Area with the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball and their affiliate, the San Jose Giants, as a strength and conditioning consultant from 2009-10. In his first tour with the Raiders, Neibel helped train athletes as a strength and conditioning/sports medicine associate.

PERSONAL: Native of Cupertino, Calif. ...Earned a degree in sports psychology from Long Beach State in 1996…Earned a second degree in physical therapy from Cerritos College in 1998…Notable qualifications include being USA weightlifting certified, level one, Olympic lifting coach, a certified strength and conditioning specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and certified in Russian Kettle bell training.