Bobby Blizzard

Bobby Blizzard (born March 22, 1980) is an American college football coach and former tight end. He is the wide receivers coach for Hampton University, a position he has held since 2023. He originally signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as a college free agent out of North Carolina in 2004. Blizzard has also been a member of the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Early life Blizzard attended Hampton High School in Virginia, where he was a two-sport start in football and basketball.

In football, he was a two-time All-American. As a senior, he was rated the #1 tight end in the nation, the #3 player in the state of Virginia, and #14 player overall in the Top 100 players in the country. Under head coach Mike Smith, Blizzard helped his team win three state championships and national championships as he lost only two games as a high schooler. Teammates of Blizzard's included future NFL players Ronald Curry, the #1 player in the state and the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year, and Marques Hagans, plus Canadian Football League player Almondo Curry.

Blizzard was also a two-time All-State basketball player, averaging 18.8 PPG, 10.3 rebounds per game, and 3 assists. He was one of Virginia's top basketball players in the state his junior and senior year as Hampton won a state championship in 1997. Ronald Curry was also a teammate of his in basketball, where Curry was the #1 player in the state of Virginia and McDonald's All-American.

Blizzard left high school as a 4-time State Champion (3-time State Champion and 2-time National Champion in football, 1 State Champion in basketball).

College career With Division I interest in both football and basketball, Blizzard decided to go to college to play college football. After initially committing to Virginia with Curry, he decided on the University of Kentucky. However, he suffered from viral meningitis early in the season, followed by a torn calf muscle that further sidelined him. and was later invited to two Division I-A all-star games and the NFL Scouting Combine.

He received his bachelor's degree from UNC in sociology. He was eventually signed to the Arizona Cardinals, where he spent the entire 2004 season.

In summer 2005, Blizzard played for the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europe, recording 34 receptions for two touchdowns. He was eventually voted to the NFL Europe All-Star Team. Upon the NFL season's arrival, Blizzard was injured in the preseason with the Cardinals, which sidelined him for much of the year and he was eventually waived/injured. In December, he was picked up by the Baltimore Ravens and placed on the practice squad. He was released on September 1, 2006.

Blizzard played for NFL Europa's Cologne Centurions in 2007. In 10 games, he led the team in receptions (38), receiving yardage (494) and touchdowns (six), also leading all tight ends in the league in every statistical category. He was voted to the All Europa All-Star Team.

He was picked up by the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent in 2007, after the end of the NFL Europa season.

Coaching career After his playing career ended, Blizzard became an assistant coach at Kecoughtan High School in 2010. That year, McMurray's receivers combined for 4,040 receiving yards, including 367.3 receiving yards per game, and 30 touchdowns. The following year, Blizzard became the running backs coach under new head coach Mason Miller. After averaging just 66.1 rushing yards in 2012, the 2013 McMurry rushing attack averaged 177.8 with 1,956 total yards.

Blizzard eventually moved to Belhaven University to become the offensive coordinator under Mumme. In his first year as OC, Blizzard's offense finished the season #10 in the nation in total offense and #2 in passing offense, recording 3,712 passing yards and averaging 337.5 yards per game.

On May 30, 2019, Blizzard joined the Dallas Renegades of the XFL as a running backs coach. On March 9, 2020, Renegades head coach Bob Stoops added the title of assistant offensive coordinator to Blizzard.

Personal life Blizzard was raised in Hampton, by David Blizzard Sr. and Laverne Aikins. David, who was a college basketball player at Winston Salem State, was also a successful high school basketball coach at Hampton High School and Phoebus High School.

Blizzard has two brothers, David Jr. and Barrett, and two children.