Chase Blackburn: Introducing the Panthers newest coordinator
Chase Blackburn has been promoted to Special Teams Coordinator for the Carolina Panthers…
After initially stating there would be no coaching changes within his staff, Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera continues to eliminate and make moves this offseason. Offensive coordinator Mike Shula and quarterback coach Ken Dorsey were the first to go, followed by special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey who has now been replaced by Chase Blackburn.
Blackburn served as an assistant to McGaughey over the past two seasons when the latter took the reigns from long time NFL special teams coordinator Bruce DeHaven due to a deteriorating health condition. DeHaven had previously stepped aside but returned for the 2015 Super Bowl season and left again during the 2016 training camp. He passed away that December.
The rise to coordinator for Blackburn has been rapid as he was initially brought on staff with Rivera to serve as an intern before the 2016 season. Due to DeHaven’s departure and promotion of McGaughey, Blackburn was boosted to special teams assistant after just one preseason game.
An NFL veteran, Blackburn played 10 seasons with both the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers. An undrafted free agent out of Akron and Ohio native, Blackburn signed with the Giants becoming an impact playmaker on special teams and as a backup linebacker.
During his time in New York, Blackburn won two Super Bowls in the 2007 and 2011 seasons. Both victories came over the New England Patriots and Tom Brady, who Blackburn intercepted in the fourth quarter of his second Super Bowl.
After eight seasons with the Giants, Blackburn joined the Panthers playing alongside fellow linebackers Thomas Davis and Luke Kuechly. His final season was cut short due to a knee injury but the former linebacker quickly found his way back into the league through coaching.
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Just four seasons after suiting up and making the plays himself, Blackburn will be orchestrating all of the special teams for Carolina during the 2018 season. The unit excelled this past year with punter Michael Palardy, kicker Graham Gano and veteran long-snapper J.J. Jansen. Both return units also received a boost from speedsters Kaelin Clay and Damiere Byrd who recorded a punt and kickoff return touchdowns, respectively.
Gano, Clay, Byrd and Palardy are all potential free agents this offseason, though Gano is the only unrestricted player. Expectations are each of the others will return and after having kicker Harrison Butker stolen from their practice squad this year, Gano will likely as well.
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Unless interim general manager Marty Hurney tempts fate and attempts to land another solid kicker via the upcoming NFL Draft. With a new special teams coordinator, odds are the veteran kicker gets a deal done soon.