Chase Blackburn

Chase Blackburn is an American professional football coach and former linebacker who serves as the assistant special teams coach for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League (NFL).

Best known for his gritty, high-IQ play style and his remarkable rise from an undrafted underdog to a core defensive leader, he captured two Super Bowl championships as an iconic figure for the New York Giants before smoothly transitioning into a highly respected NFL special teams coordinator.

Player Profile, High School, and College Career

Chase Wyatt Blackburn was born on June 10, 1983, in Bellefontaine, Ohio, USA. The Linebacker stands 191 cm tall, and his playing weight was listed at 111 kg.

He grew up in Ohio and attended Marysville High School, where he was a standout multi-sport letterman in both football and basketball, ultimately wrapping up his high school gridiron tenure with 320 career tackles and a trip to the state semifinals.

Committing to the University of Akron, Blackburn was a relentless three-year starter for the Zips from 2001 to 2004, showcasing great versatility by splitting time between linebacker and defensive end. Playing the hybrid "bandit" position during his senior year, he finished his collegiate career with 293 tackles and 11 sacks, earning First-team All-MAC honors as a junior.

Professional Playing Career

Blackburn went undrafted in the 2005 NFL Draft but signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants.

He defied the odds as a rookie, carving out an indispensable role as a special teams ace and backup linebacker. Blackburn quickly grew into a foundational locker room leader, culminating in his election as a special teams captain by his peers in 2010.

His tenure in New York was defined by championship resilience; he won two Super Bowl titles with the franchise, both coming in legendary upsets over the New England Patriots. In Super Bowl XLVI, Blackburn executed one of the biggest plays of the game, winning a critical one-on-one deep matchup against tight end Rob Gronkowski to log a crucial fourth-quarter interception off Tom Brady.

In March 2013, Blackburn signed a two-year contract with the Carolina Panthers. He brought invaluable veteran poise and intelligence to a defense anchored by Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis, appearing in significant rotational roles and concluding his ten-year NFL playing career with 372 tackles and four interceptions across 132 regular-season games.

Coaching Career

Following his retirement as an active player, Blackburn immediately redirected his high-level diagnostic skills into the coaching ranks. He made his professional coaching debut with the Carolina Panthers, serving as an assistant from 2016 to 2017 before earning a well-deserved promotion to special teams coordinator, a role he held securely for four seasons.

Blackburn spent the 2022 campaign as an assistant special teams coach for the Tennessee Titans before being hired as the special teams coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams from 2023 to 2025. In Los Angeles, his units were known for their aggressive, sound execution, leading the NFL in 2024 with four separate blocked kicks.

Looking to inject elite veteran experience into their newly formed staff under head coach Raheem Morris, the Atlanta Falcons officially hired Blackburn as their assistant special teams coach in February 2026.

Career Highlights

• 2007, 2011 – 2× Super Bowl champion (XLII, XLVI) with the New York Giants
• 2011 – Logged the lone defensive turnover of Super Bowl XLVI by intercepting Tom Brady
• 2010 – Elected special teams team captain by New York Giants players
• 2003 – First-team All-MAC selection