BLACKBURN
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A Marysville native and two-time Super Bowl champion is continuing his climb up the coaching ladder.
Chase Blackburn, a 2001 graduate of Marysville High School, has been promoted to special teams coordinator for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
The move was announced Friday after the Panthers parted ways with former special teams boss Thomas McGaughey.
The switch is just the latest in several changes to Carolina’s coaching staff, despite an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance at the end the 2017 regular season.
Offensive coordinator Mike Shula, the son of legendary NFL coach Don Shula, was dismissed two days after the season ended.
He was replaced by former NFL head coach Norv Turner.
The Panthers also fired quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey.
Blackburn, who led the Marysville Monarchs to the Division II state playoff semifinals in 2000, went on to play college football at the University of Akron.
He signed a free agent contract with the New York Giants in 2005 and was a linebacker on two Super Bowl championship teams in February of 2008 and 2012.
The Giants beat the New England Patriots in both Super Bowl victories
Along the way, Blackburn served as the captain of the Giants’ special teams.
He later signed as a free agent with the Panthers and played two seasons in Carolina.
Blackburn, who will be inducted into the Marysville High School Athletic Hall of Fame on Feb. 9, began his coaching career with the Panthers after his playing days concluded.
He initially was named as a special teams intern and was then promoted to McGaughey’s assistant in 2016.