Blake Hance Bio
Blake Andrew Hance (born January 11, 1996) is an American professional football guard who plays in the National Football League (NFL). Listed at 6 feet 5 inches and 310 pounds, he currently plays for the Tennessee Titans after a long journey through NFL practice squads and short-term roster stints. A reliable interior lineman, Hance built his career on positional flexibility and durability, having played for eight NFL franchises since going undrafted out of college.
Hance attended Northwestern University, where he spent four seasons with the Wildcats before entering the professional ranks in 2019. Through perseverance and steady improvement, he transformed himself from a fringe camp body into a dependable offensive guard with double-digit career starts. His career arc reflects the modern journeyman lineman path, marked by quick decisions on practice squad elevations and reserve activations.
Early Life and Background
Blake Andrew Hance was born on January 11, 1996, in Jacksonville, Illinois. He grew up in the same central Illinois community that bears his high school’s name, Jacksonville, where he developed his early football foundation. Jacksonville is a small city known regionally for its college traditions, and Hance was part of a tight-knit local sports scene that helped shape his work ethic on the field.
Coming out of Jacksonville High School, Hance drew attention as a promising offensive line prospect with the frame and footwork needed for the next level. He earned the opportunity to play at the Big Ten level, accepting a scholarship to Northwestern University. The Wildcats, based in Evanston, Illinois, offered him a chance to compete against top-tier college talent while staying relatively close to home.
Path to American Football
At Northwestern, Hance played four seasons for the Wildcats between 2014 and 2018, working through the program as an interior offensive lineman. He developed under the Wildcats’ coaching staff, learning the technical and mental demands of Big Ten football while adjusting to higher-level competition. Though he did not earn widespread national recognition in college, his consistency and size made him a candidate for an NFL opportunity.
After completing his senior season, Hance declared for the 2019 NFL Draft but went undrafted. He signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2019, beginning a multi-year pursuit of an active roster spot in the league. That initial contract marked his formal entry into professional football and the start of a series of transitions between teams that would define his early pro career.
Blake Hance Career
Early Career (2019)
Hance’s first NFL chapter moved quickly. After being released by the Bills on May 22, 2019, he was signed by the Washington Football Team on June 3, 2019, where he spent the rest of training camp before being waived on August 31. Just one day later, on September 1, 2019, the Jacksonville Jaguars added him to their practice squad, and he remained there for the rest of his rookie season.
The early carousel taught Hance how short NFL windows can be. Each transaction reinforced the need to stay ready, and he earned a reserve/futures contract with the Jaguars on January 2, 2020, only to be waived again on September 5, 2020. The pattern of being elevated, released, and re-signed became a hallmark of his first two professional seasons.
Cleveland Browns Era (2020–2021)
Hance’s NFL regular-season debut came in an unusual setting. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns from the Jets’ practice squad on January 2, 2021, and was activated for the Browns’ playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers because of injuries and COVID-19-related absences. He entered the game in the fourth quarter and played 14 snaps at guard, stepping in after Michael Dunn exited with an injury.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield publicly praised Hance after the contest, noting that the two had only just met before kickoff. Mayfield highlighted how Hance stepped up under pressure despite the lack of practice reps. Cleveland later tendered Hance as an exclusive-rights free agent on March 7, 2022, before waiving him on August 30, 2022.
San Francisco 49ers Era (2022)
On August 31, 2022, Hance was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco 49ers, joining one of the league’s most stable offensive line systems. He appeared in seven games with the 49ers during the 2022 season, providing depth at guard. The stint was brief, as the 49ers waived him on October 29, 2022, but it gave him meaningful regular-season experience on a contending roster.
Jacksonville Jaguars Second Stint (2022–2024)
The Jacksonville Jaguars claimed Hance off waivers on November 1, 2022, beginning his most stable stretch in the NFL. Over three seasons with the Jaguars, he appeared in 35 games, gradually earning a larger role along the offensive line. His experience with the franchise dated back to 2019, making Jacksonville a familiar landing point.
On August 27, 2024, Hance was released by the Jaguars and immediately re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted back to the active roster on October 29, 2024, and continued in a rotational role. By the end of his Jacksonville tenure, he had built a reputation as a versatile swing guard capable of filling in at multiple interior positions.
Tennessee Titans Era (2025–Present)
On March 13, 2025, Hance signed with the Tennessee Titans on a one-year contract worth $1.3 million. The agreement marked his eighth NFL franchise and reflected his continued value as an experienced depth piece along the offensive line. The contract runs through the 2025 season.
Hance joined a Titans organization in the middle of a roster transition, where his veteran presence and positional flexibility were viewed as assets for the offensive line room. His career statistics through the 2024 season include 59 games played and 10 games started, numbers he continues to build on in Tennessee.
Driving Style and Strengths
As an interior offensive lineman, Hance brings size, length, and steady technique to the guard position. He has shown the ability to play both left and right guard, an important trait for offensive line units that value interchangeable pieces. His durability and willingness to contribute on special teams have made him a reliable practice squad call-up throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Hance’s career came during the 2020 AFC Wild Card playoff game, when he made his NFL debut under emergency circumstances against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The activation was driven by injuries and COVID-19 protocols, and his 14 snaps in that fourth quarter marked his first regular-season game action in the league. His 35-game run with the Jacksonville Jaguars across two stints stands as his longest continuous contribution to a single franchise.
Blake Hance Career Wins
Blake Hance’s career has been defined more by longevity and versatility than by box-score statistics. As an offensive lineman, individual win totals are not tracked in the same way as for skill players, but his 59 career games played and 10 career starts through the 2024 season reflect sustained value across multiple rosters.
Jacksonville Jaguars Highlights
Across his combined stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Hance appeared in 35 games, the highest single-team total of his career. He contributed at both guard spots and served as a steady veteran presence during his second stint from 2022 to 2024. He also earned a promotion from the practice squad to the active roster during the 2024 season, highlighting the coaching staff’s continued trust in his ability.
Other Wins & Performances
With the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, Hance appeared in seven regular-season games, providing interior depth on a playoff-contending roster. His brief stop with the Cleveland Browns in 2020 included his playoff debut, an experience that helped cement his standing as a dependable emergency option along the offensive line.
Blake Hance Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public biographical details about Blake Hance’s parents and immediate family are limited, and verified information on his family background beyond his Jacksonville, Illinois, upbringing is not widely available.
Personal Life
Hance has kept most of his personal life out of the public eye. Verified public records do not include details about a spouse or children, and no confirmed personal-life milestones beyond his professional career have been published.
2025 Season Performance
Hance entered the 2025 season with the Tennessee Titans after signing a one-year, $1.3 million contract in March 2025. The agreement positioned him as part of the team’s offensive line depth chart under new coaching leadership. His experience across multiple systems was expected to give Tennessee flexibility along the interior.
Through the early portion of the 2025 campaign, Hance continued to serve in a rotational and depth role, contributing on special teams and at guard when called upon. His steady approach and positional versatility gave the Titans options as they sorted through their offensive line rotation during the year.
Looking ahead, Hance’s contract runs through the end of the 2025 season, meaning his long-term future in Tennessee will depend on his performance and the team’s direction. Regardless of the outcome, his continued presence on an NFL roster in 2025 marks another chapter in a career that has spanned eight franchises since 2019.