Chase

Blackburn

Blackburn was fired by the Rams towards the end of the regular season after several losses were influenced by blunders on special teams. He had been with the team since 2023 but poor special teams showings marked a rough ending to his tenure. Blackburn will get a fresh start as an assistant in the special teams room with the Rams.

Three of the four losses by the Rams this season were influenced heavily by special teams mishaps, leading to the change as the Rams fight for playoff seeding in the NFC. Blackburn was hired prior to the 2023 season and was unable to finish his third season with the team.

Blackburn spent last season as Tennessee’s special teams assistant after coordinating the Panthers special teams from 2018-2021. The Panthers generally finished in the middle of the pack in special teams DVOA under Blackburn’s watch. The Rams had fired Joe DeCamillis earlier in the offseason.

Reportedly unhappy and embarrassed by the team’s performance since Matt Rhule took over in 2020, owner David Tepper wants major changes in the team’s coaching staff (except for the top guy). Rhule has been told to hire a “rock star” offensive coordinator to save his job this offseason. So far, the Panthers have expressed interest in former Colts OC Pep Hamilton.

Close to a job teaching eighth-grade math, Blackburn came to the Giants’ rescue in the Super Bowl run after being signed in late November. Although Blackburn hopes to re-sign, the Giants appear to be prioritizing Jonathan Goff instead.

Blackburn, 29 in June, closed out last season as the Giants’ starting middle linebacker. While he won’t retain the role, Blackburn came up with a huge interception of Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLVI and should earn a roster spot as a backup and special teamer. He finished 2011 with 26 tackles on defense.

Fewell did say he anticipates “competition” at MIKE, naming Mark Herzlich, Greg Jones, and Keith Rivers as Blackburn’s competitors. Blackburn is more of a fill-in, replacement-level middle linebacker, though he is an adequate run stuffer. It sounds like Michael Boley is staying on the weak side for now.

GM Jerry Reese has said Boley could move to the middle, but Fewell isn’t sure it would work. “I don’t think that’s his best position,” Fewell said. Fewell did allow that Boley “definitely has the ability to do that.” Per Fewell, Chase Blackburn is currently penciled in at middle linebacker, and Greg Jones, Mark Herzlich and Keith Rivers will all compete for the job. Boley is probably still the favorite, but it will be a camp battle to watch for IDP players.

Herzlich started two games in the middle before an ankle injured ended his season in Week 12. The Giants have since re-signed Chase Blackburn and have also talked about moving Michael Boley to the middle. The odds are now stacked against Herzlich emerging as the starter.

The Giants would have re-signed Blackburn by now, obviously, if they were intent on retaining him. Blackburn closed out last season as the Giants’ starting middle linebacker. They want to get better at the position this year.