Chase Blackburn
Encyclopedia
Chase Blackburn is an American football
linebacker
for the New York Giants
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football
for Akron
.
in Marysville, Ohio
and was a letterman in football
and basketball. In football, as a senior, he led his team to a 13-1 record and the 2001 Ohio High School Football Division II State Seminifinals. He finished with 320 career tackles.
, playing both at linebacker and defensive end and started 34 of 45 games in which he played. He finished his college
career with 293 tackles (179 solo), 11 sacks, 38.5 tackles for losses and three interceptions. He started all 11 games as a senior and finished with 71 tackles (41 solo), 5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for losses playing the "bandit" - a hybrid between the linebacker and defensive end positions. He was named All-MAC linebacker as a junior.
in 2005, Blackburn spent most of the season as a backup linebacker and special teamer. He played in 15 games with two starts and led the Giants with a career-high 22 special teams tackles. He started two games at middle linebacker after Antonio Pierce
suffered a season-ending ankle injury. He made his first NFL start vs. Kansas City (12/17/2005) and Blackburn finished with 9 tackles (3 solo). Then, he started at middle linebacker at Washington (12/24/2005) and recorded 6 tackles (3 solo) and an interception that he returned for a 32-yard touchdown. He picked off a Mark Brunell
pass and ran up the left sideline for his first pro score. He left the game in the 3rd quarter with a neck strain that ended his season and forced him to go on injured reserve.
In 2006, played in 16 regular season games and the NFC Wild Card Game and tied with Reggie Torbor
for the team lead with 14 special teams tackles. He also saw action at linebacker and had 5 tackles (4 solo) and a sack for an 8-yard loss as the nickel linebacker in his first career postseason action at Philadelphia in the NFC Wild Card game (1/7/2007).
In 2007, he played in all 16 regular season games and four postseason contests and recorded a team-high 17 special teams tackles, He saw action at middle linebacker in three games and recorded 6 tackles (1 solo). In Super Bowl XLII
Blackburn had a costly penalty on a punt return as he was the extra man on the field on a 12-man-on-the-field penalty. After the play, New England Patriots
head coach Bill Belichick
challenged the play that the Giants had 12 men on the field and won. The penalty resulted in a first down, but the Patriots did not score on that drive after a failed 4th down conversion. As a result, the Giants improved their field position by 20 yards, so the penalty actually benefited the team. The Giants would go on to win the game.
In 2008, played in all 16 regular season games with 9 starts (eight at weakside linebacker and one at middle linebacker) and started the NFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. Philadelphia. He had a career-high 45 tackles (25 solo), one sack, a pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery and also had a team-high 18 special teams tackles. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after recording 3 tackles and recovering a fumble on a kickoff at Philadelphia (11/9/2008).
In 2009, played in all 16 games - for the 4th consecutive season - with 7 starts – 5 at weakside linebacker and 2 at middle linebacker…Finished the season with 38 tackles (25 solo), an interception and a half-sack on defense and tied Bryan Kehl
with a team-high 16 special teams tackles.
For 2010, he was elected as a team captain by his team-mates, representing special teams. After the season, he became an unrestricted free agent. He was re-signed on November 29, 2011.
and attended the Ronald McDonald House fundraiser dinner. Currently, in 2006, he is attempting to complete his undergraduate degree by attending classes at Fairleigh Dickinson University
. He has made financial contributions to the Habitat for Humanity International Katrina Relief Fund.
Blackburn is married to his wife, Megan. He graduated from the University of Akron
with a degree in mathematics
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for Akron
Akron Zips football
The University of Akron Zips are a college football program representing the University of Akron that competes in NCAA Division I FBS Mid-American Conference football...
.
Early years
Blackburn attended Marysville High SchoolMarysville High School (Ohio)
Marysville High School is a public high school in Marysville, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Marysville Exempted Village School District...
in Marysville, Ohio
Marysville, Ohio
Marysville is a city in and the county seat of Union County, Ohio, United States. The population was 15,942 at the 2000 census, and the Census Bureau estimated that it had risen to 17,621 by 2006.Marysville's longtime slogan is "Where the Grass is Greener"...
and was a letterman in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
and basketball. In football, as a senior, he led his team to a 13-1 record and the 2001 Ohio High School Football Division II State Seminifinals. He finished with 320 career tackles.
College career
Blackburn was a three-year starter the University of AkronUniversity of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
, playing both at linebacker and defensive end and started 34 of 45 games in which he played. He finished his college
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
career with 293 tackles (179 solo), 11 sacks, 38.5 tackles for losses and three interceptions. He started all 11 games as a senior and finished with 71 tackles (41 solo), 5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for losses playing the "bandit" - a hybrid between the linebacker and defensive end positions. He was named All-MAC linebacker as a junior.
Pre-draft
Blackburn measured 6-3 and 245 pounds and at the Akron Pro Day, Blackburn ran a 4.69 40-yard dash.New York Giants
An undrafted rookie for the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2005, Blackburn spent most of the season as a backup linebacker and special teamer. He played in 15 games with two starts and led the Giants with a career-high 22 special teams tackles. He started two games at middle linebacker after Antonio Pierce
Antonio Pierce
Antonio Durran Pierce is a former American football linebacker. He was signed by the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He played college football at Arizona....
suffered a season-ending ankle injury. He made his first NFL start vs. Kansas City (12/17/2005) and Blackburn finished with 9 tackles (3 solo). Then, he started at middle linebacker at Washington (12/24/2005) and recorded 6 tackles (3 solo) and an interception that he returned for a 32-yard touchdown. He picked off a Mark Brunell
Mark Brunell
Mark Allen Brunell is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the New York Jets. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Washington....
pass and ran up the left sideline for his first pro score. He left the game in the 3rd quarter with a neck strain that ended his season and forced him to go on injured reserve.
In 2006, played in 16 regular season games and the NFC Wild Card Game and tied with Reggie Torbor
Reggie Torbor
Reggie Jermaine Torbor is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Auburn.Torbor has also played for the Miami Dolphins...
for the team lead with 14 special teams tackles. He also saw action at linebacker and had 5 tackles (4 solo) and a sack for an 8-yard loss as the nickel linebacker in his first career postseason action at Philadelphia in the NFC Wild Card game (1/7/2007).
In 2007, he played in all 16 regular season games and four postseason contests and recorded a team-high 17 special teams tackles, He saw action at middle linebacker in three games and recorded 6 tackles (1 solo). In Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII
Super Bowl XLII was an American football game on February 3, 2008 that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
Blackburn had a costly penalty on a punt return as he was the extra man on the field on a 12-man-on-the-field penalty. After the play, New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
head coach Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick
William Stephen "Bill" Belichick is an American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991...
challenged the play that the Giants had 12 men on the field and won. The penalty resulted in a first down, but the Patriots did not score on that drive after a failed 4th down conversion. As a result, the Giants improved their field position by 20 yards, so the penalty actually benefited the team. The Giants would go on to win the game.
In 2008, played in all 16 regular season games with 9 starts (eight at weakside linebacker and one at middle linebacker) and started the NFC Divisional Playoff Game vs. Philadelphia. He had a career-high 45 tackles (25 solo), one sack, a pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery and also had a team-high 18 special teams tackles. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after recording 3 tackles and recovering a fumble on a kickoff at Philadelphia (11/9/2008).
In 2009, played in all 16 games - for the 4th consecutive season - with 7 starts – 5 at weakside linebacker and 2 at middle linebacker…Finished the season with 38 tackles (25 solo), an interception and a half-sack on defense and tied Bryan Kehl
Bryan Kehl
Bryan Kehl is an American football linebacker for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Brigham Young....
with a team-high 16 special teams tackles.
For 2010, he was elected as a team captain by his team-mates, representing special teams. After the season, he became an unrestricted free agent. He was re-signed on November 29, 2011.
Off-the-field
In 2005, Blackburn participated in the "Iron Chefs" cooking competition hosted by the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and attended the Ronald McDonald House fundraiser dinner. Currently, in 2006, he is attempting to complete his undergraduate degree by attending classes at Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university founded as a junior college in 1942. It now has several campuses located in New Jersey, Canada, and the United Kingdom.-Description:...
. He has made financial contributions to the Habitat for Humanity International Katrina Relief Fund.
Blackburn is married to his wife, Megan. He graduated from the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
with a degree in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
.