Chase Blackburn

Chase Blackburn

No. --     Free Agent
Linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: June 10, 1983 (1983-06-10) (age 28)
Place of birth: Marysville, Ohio
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	Weight: 247 lb (112 kg)
Career information
College: Akron
Undrafted in 2005
Debuted in 2005 for the New York Giants
Career history
New York Giants (2005–2010)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLII) First-team All-MAC (2003)
Stats at NFL.com

Chase Blackburn (born on June 10, 1983 in Marysville, Ohio) is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football for Akron.

Early years

Blackburn attended Marysville High School 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.

College career

Blackburn was a three-year starter the University of Akron, 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.

Professional career

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 Giants 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.^[1] After the season, he became an unrestricted free agent.

Off-the-field

In 2005, Blackburn participated in the "Iron Chefs" cooking competition hosted by the New York Giants 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.^[2]

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ New York Giants Bio

External links

• NFL.com bio

Persondata
Name	Blackburn, Chase
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 10, 1983
Place of birth	Marysville, Ohio
Date of death
Place of death