Chase Blackburn was the Special Teams Coordinator for the Carolina Panthers from 2018-2021, here was their rankings.
2018...23rd overall
2019....28th overall
2020....15th overall
2021....28th overall
Not exactly glowing endorsements. Again, there was not another ST Coordinator available that at the very minimum had a special team unit in the top ten?
Chase Blackburn is in his first season with the Titans and his seventh campaign coaching in the NFL. He joined the Titans in 2022 after six seasons on the Carolina Panthers staff, including four years (2018-21) as special teams coordinator.
Under Blackburn in 2021, the Panthers ranked eighth in punt return coverage (7.4 yards per opponent return) and eighth in field goal percentage (89.7). The Panthers used three kickers over the course of the season and yet still connected on 26 of 29 of their attempts.
In 2020, Carolina posted the NFL's seventh-ranked kickoff return average (25.3) and placed seventh in kickoff coverage (20.6 yards per opponent return). The Panthers set a franchise record for the most punts inside the 20 (46.7 percent), finishing third in the NFL.
Panthers rookie kicker Joey Slye set a franchise record in 2019 by connecting on an NFL-best eight field goals of 50 yards or longer. Meanwhile, punter Michael Palardy placed 25 punts inside the 20 with only three touchbacks and the punt team converted two fakes for first downs.
In 2018, the Panthers ranked third in the NFL with a 77.9 percent touchback rate on kickoffs (60 of 78). Carolina ranked sixth in the league in field goal percentage as kickers Graham Gano and Chandler Catanzaro combined to go 19-of-21, including five field goals on six attempts from 50 yards or longer. Gano's 63-yard game-winning field goal against the Giants tied for the longest game-winning field goal in NFL history and second-longest all-time. Palardy helped the Panthers pin teams deep as Carolina ranked fifth in the NFL in average starting field position (27.1).
Gano earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2017 after setting a franchise record with an NFL-leading 96.7 field goal percentage (29 of 30). He also led the NFL in touchback percentage at 85.4, sending 70 of his 83 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. In the NFC Wild Card round at New Orleans, Gano converted a franchise playoff-record 58-yard field goal, tying the NFL postseason record.
Blackburn made his coaching debut in 2016 after serving as a coaching intern with the Panthers during the 2016 offseason. The 2016 Panthers led the NFL and tied a team record with three blocked field goals.
As a player, Blackburn played 10 NFL seasons (2005-14) for the New York Giants (2005-12) and Panthers (2013-14). He recorded 265 tackles, 4.5 sacks, four interceptions, 10 passes defensed and four forced fumbles in 132 games (45 starts). As a special teams player, he tallied 123 career tackles, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the New York Giants in 2005, Blackburn played eight seasons with the Giants and led the team in special teams tackles for six consecutive years from 2005 to 2010. In 2008, he was named a Pro Bowl alternate as a cover specialist. He earned two Super Bowl rings with the Giants, contributing to their victories in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI. He then played his final two seasons with the Panthers.
A three-year starter at linebacker and defensive end for Akron, Blackburn played in 45 collegiate games with 34 starts and totaled 293 tackles, 38.5 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and three interceptions. He earned second-team All-Mid-American Conference honors as a junior in 2003 and played in the Gridiron Classic in 2004.
Blackburn attended Marysville (Ohio) High School and graduated from Akron with a degree in mathematics.
He and his wife, Megan, have three sons: Landyn, Bentley and Wyatt.
Chase Blackburn's Coaching Timeline:
2022: Assistant Special Teams, Tennessee Titans
2018-21: Special Teams Coordinator, Carolina Panthers
2016-17: Special Teams Assistant, Carolina Panthers
Chase Blackburn is in his first season with the Titans and his seventh campaign coaching in the NFL. He joined the Titans in 2022 after six seasons on the Carolina Panthers staff, including four years (2018-21) as special teams coordinator.
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