NASHVILLE – The Titans have hired Chase Blackburn as the team's assistant special teams coach.
Blackburn joins the Titans after six seasons (2016-21) coaching for the Carolina Panthers, including the last four as the team's special teams coordinator.
With the Titans, Blackburn will assist special teams coach Craig Aukerman under head coach Mike Vrabel. Matt Edwards served as assistant special teams coach for the Titans in 2021.
In 2021, the Panthers ranked eighth in punt return average allowed (7.4), eighth in field goal percentage (90%), 13th in punt return average (8.9) and 17th in kickoff return average (22.1). The Panthers used three kickers over the course of the season and they connected on 26 of 29 of their attempts. In 2020, Carolina posted the seventh ranked kickoff return average (25.3) and the ranked seventh in kickoff return average allowed (20.6). In 2019, rookie kicker Joey Slye set a franchise record by connecting on an NFL-best eight field goals of 50 yards or longer. Punter Michael Palardy placed 25 punts inside the 20 with only three touchbacks and the punt team converted two fakes for first downs.
A successful player, Blackburn played 10 NFL seasons (2005-14) for the 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. On special teams, Blackburn tallied 123 career tackles, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent with the Giants and went on to the lead the team in special teams stops for six consecutive seasons (2005-10) and earned two Super Bowl championships (XLII and XLVI). Blackburn was a three-year starter at linebacker at Akron.
Additionally, two coaches, who were on the Titans staff for the 2021 coaching staff on a season-long basis, have earned full-time roles on the staff – Clint McMillan and Kylan Butler. McMillan is now a defensive line assistant and Butler is an offensive assistant.
