Chase

Blackburn

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.

A special teams captain in 2010, Blackburn racked up 93 games and 17 starts for the Giants over six seasons. He’ll add depth with Michael Boley (hamstring) and Mark Herzlich (ankle) battling injuries.

It’s a versatile unit that figures to be fluid once the season opens. Boley can play the weak-side or the middle and Kiwanuka figures to shift into a pass-rushing role on third downs. The second unit at minicamp consisted of Keith Rivers, Mark Herzlich and Jacquian Williams. Rivers figures to threaten Blackburn at middle linebacker during training camp.