After a terribly disappointing 2021 campaign, the Carolina Panthers will be undergoing a bit of a facelift this offseason. And unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) for special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn, he won’t be around to see this latest one through.
On Tuesday morning, head coach Matt Rhule fired a trio of his assistants as he tries to preserve himself revamp much of the team’s braintrust. Blackburn, who was part of the bunch that also included now former offensive line coach Pat Meyer and defensive line coach Frank Okam, took right to Twitter just minutes after the news broke to thank the organization and the city of Charlotte.
Can’t thank the @Panthers enough for my time as a player and a coach. Unfortunately all good things must come to an end. I wish nothing but the best to the city of Charlotte and all my @Panthers players that I care so deeply for!!
— Chase Blackburn (@Blackburn5793) January 11, 2022
Before trading in his cleats for a headset, the ex-linebacker played 10 seasons between the Panthers and New York Giants. His time with Carolina, mainly as a special teams ace, saw the University of Akron product total 39 tackles from 2013 to 2014.
In 2016, Blackburn hopped back on with the franchise as an assistant special teams coach under Ron Rivera. He’d then, to much acclaim, be promoted to the coordinator spot in 2018.
The feeling around the league is that Blackburn, given the respect he’s earned amongst both his fellow coaches and players, will not be without a job for long. And while all good things must come to an end, new ones will assuredly be in store for the 38-year-old.
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