Jeff Blake facts for kids
Blake in 2021
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | December 4, 1970 Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 223 lb (101 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Seminole (Sanford, Florida) | ||||||
| College: | East Carolina | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1992 / Round: 6 / Pick: 166 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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Jeffrey Bertrand Coleman Blake (born December 4, 1970) is a former American football player. He was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He played college football for the East Carolina Pirates.
Blake played for seven different teams during his NFL career. His longest time was with the Cincinnati Bengals from 1994 to 1999. Before that, he spent his first two seasons with the New York Jets. The Jets picked him in the sixth round of the 1992 NFL draft. He later played for the New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, and Chicago Bears. In 1995, while with the Bengals, Blake was chosen for the Pro Bowl. He holds the record for the longest touchdown pass in Pro Bowl history, at 93 yards.
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Early Life and Family
Jeff Blake was born on December 4, 1970, in Daytona Beach, Florida. His parents were Peggy and Emory Blake. His father, Emory, also played professional football as a slotback for the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts.
When Jeff was young, his family went through a very sad time. His mother passed away in 1976. After this, his father decided to stop his own football career. He wanted to focus on raising Jeff. Emory soon became a physical education teacher and coach in Sanford, Florida. Jeff grew up close to his father. He sang in the church choir where his father was a pastor. He also helped on the sidelines at Seminole High School, where his father coached.
Blake became a star quarterback at Seminole High School in Florida. His father, Emory, was his offensive coordinator. Big colleges like Florida, Miami, and Florida State wanted to recruit him. However, they wanted him to play a different position, which Jeff did not want to do. He chose East Carolina University because they strongly wanted him as a quarterback. They made him feel confident, as they were used to having Black quarterbacks.
College Football Career
Jeff Blake played a little during his first two years at East Carolina. In 1990, he started playing more as the main quarterback. That year, his team won 5 games and lost 6.
The 1991 season was a huge surprise for everyone. The East Carolina Pirates won eleven games, including three against highly ranked teams. Blake finished sixth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy, which is a big award for college football players. The Pirates ended the season ranked #9 in the country. In 2007, Jeff Blake was honored by being added to the East Carolina Hall of Fame.
Professional Football Career
When it was time for the NFL draft, Jeff Blake was not considered a top player. This was partly because he was measured as being a little under 6 feet tall. The New York Jets picked him in the sixth round of the 1992 draft. He did not play much with the Jets and was released in 1993.
Blake later joined the Cincinnati Bengals. He became their starting quarterback in 1994 because other players were injured. In his first game, he threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He helped the Bengals win 3 games that season. In 1995, Blake became the full-time starter. He connected well with Bengals receivers Carl Pickens and Darnay Scott. He threw for 3,822 yards and 28 touchdowns. This great performance earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl. His exciting play even helped convince people in Ohio to approve funding for a new stadium for the team.
After the 1999 season, Blake left the Bengals. He then played for the New Orleans Saints in 2000 and 2001. In 2000, he started 11 games and helped the Saints win 7 of them before he got injured. After the Saints, he played one season each for the Baltimore Ravens (2002) and the Arizona Cardinals (2003).
Blake later signed with the Chicago Bears before the 2005 NFL season. He played in a few games that year. After his contract ended, the Bears did not re-sign him. Jeff Blake finished his 14-year career with 21,711 passing yards. He threw 134 touchdown passes and had 99 interceptions. He was also a mobile quarterback, meaning he could run with the ball. He ran for 2,027 yards and 14 touchdowns in his career. He started 100 games in the NFL.
Personal Life
After retiring from football, Jeff Blake settled in Austin, Texas. He met his wife, Lewanna, when he was in college. They have four children: Emory, Torre, Trey, and Lahne. His son, Emory, won a national championship with the Auburn football team in 2010. His daughter, Torre, auditioned for the TV show The Voice in 2024 and chose Snoop Dogg as her coach.
Jeff Blake has also worked as a coach. He was the Director of the Quarterback Academy at IMG Academy. In 2023, he became the head coach and offensive coordinator for the Prepstar 7-on-7 football team at Valley Sports Academy in Lake Hallie, Wisconsin.
Images for kids
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Jeff Blake in 2021
