Marquise Blair Bio
Marquise Damond Blair, born on July 18, 1997, in Little Rock, Arkansas, is an American professional football safety. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing approximately 196 pounds, Blair has carved out a career in the National Football League through a combination of physical play, positional versatility, and perseverance. He is best known for his time with the Seattle Seahawks, who selected him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he has since appeared for several other organizations as he continues his professional journey.
Early Life and Background
Marquise Damond Blair was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, before his family ties led him to Ohio. He attended Wooster High School in Wooster, Ohio, where he developed into a standout defensive prospect. As a senior, he earned First-team Division II all-state honors and was also named First-team Division II All-Ohio. His performance that season was strong enough to be recognized as the Ohio Cardinal Conference Defensive Player of the Year, signaling his potential to play at higher levels of the sport.
Following high school, Blair initially took the junior college route, attending Dodge City Community College in Kansas from 2015 to 2016. At Dodge City, he was an all-conference selection as a freshman and followed that up by being named a first-team Junior College All-American. During his time with the Conquistadors, he recorded more than 100 tackles, 3 sacks, and 4 interceptions, building a résumé that would attract the attention of major college programs.
Path to Professional Football
After the 2016 season, Blair transferred to the University of Utah to compete at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. Working his way into the starting lineup as a junior in 2017, he started six of nine games and produced more than 48 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two pass breakups before a season-ending injury against UCLA cut his year short. His resilience and production caught the attention of NFL scouts evaluating the 2019 draft class.
As a senior in 2018, Blair started all 14 games for the Utes, earning Second-team All-Pac-12 honors alongside 17 of his teammates. He finished the year with 59 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble. His combination of size, range, and ball skills helped position him as one of the top safety prospects in his draft class, and he was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round, 47th overall, in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Marquise Blair Career
Early Career (2019)
Blair joined the Seattle Seahawks as a second-round pick in 2019 and began learning the professional game at the safety position. As a rookie, he adjusted to the speed and complexity of NFL schemes while contributing on special teams and in defensive packages. The 2019 season served as a developmental year that allowed him to build a foundation for larger roles in subsequent seasons.
Seattle Seahawks First Stint (2019-2021)
Blair entered the 2020 NFL season as the starting nickelback for the Seahawks, switching from his original safety position. He opened the year with seven tackles, including four solo stops, in Seattle’s 38-25 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and he also generated a forced fumble in that game. His season ended early when a teammate rolled onto his leg following a tackle, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and sending him to injured reserve on September 23.
Blair returned to the Seahawks in 2021 as the backup free safety to Quandre Diggs, appearing in six games before a knee injury in Week 7 placed him on injured reserve on November 12. On August 30, 2022, Seattle waived Blair, concluding his first stint with the organization that drafted him.
Carolina Panthers (2022)
On September 5, 2022, Blair signed with the Carolina Panthers practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on November 6, 2022, before being released the following day, marking a brief stay in Carolina.
Philadelphia Eagles (2022-2023)
Blair joined the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad on November 16, 2022, and was released on December 13. He later signed a reserve and futures deal with the Eagles on February 9, 2023, but was released on April 24 with a non-football injury designation, ending his time in Philadelphia.
Seattle Seahawks Second Stint (2024)
On July 26, 2024, Blair was signed by the Seattle Seahawks for a second stint with the organization. He was released on August 27, re-signed to the practice squad, and ultimately released on September 24, 2024.
New York Jets (2024)
On October 17, 2024, Blair was signed to the New York Jets practice squad. He was released on November 5, 2024, concluding his most recent known professional stop.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Blair’s career was his 2020 transition to the nickelback role with the Seattle Seahawks, where he quickly produced a forced fumble and multiple tackles against the Atlanta Falcons. His second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2018 stands as a key collegiate milestone, while being chosen 47th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft remains the most significant achievement of his professional trajectory to date.
Marquise Blair Career Highlights
Across his NFL career as of the 2024 season, Blair has accumulated 52 total tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 pass deflections. While he has yet to record a verified win total in a manner comparable to win-based sports, his production and versatility have allowed him to remain active in professional football across multiple organizations.
Other Performances
Blair’s most notable post-college honors include his Second-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2018, which underscored his development as one of the top defensive backs in the conference during his final year at the University of Utah.
Marquise Blair Family
Personal Life
Public details about Marquise Blair’s immediate family and personal relationships are not extensively documented in verified sources. He was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and later attended high school in Wooster, Ohio, reflecting a childhood shaped by moves between regions. Available biographical information does not confirm details regarding a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
As of the 2025 offseason, Marquise Blair’s most recent professional activity came during the 2024 season, when he spent time with the Seattle Seahawks practice squad and later the New York Jets practice squad. His release from the Jets on November 5, 2024, leaves his 2025 status open heading into the new league year, with no publicly confirmed team affiliation at the time of writing.
Given his track record of signing reserve or futures deals mid-season, Blair remains a candidate to join a team in need of defensive back depth. His experience at both safety and slot cornerback, along with familiarity with Seahawks defensive schemes, makes him a plausible short-term addition for organizations seeking veteran practice squad help.
Looking ahead, Blair’s 2025 outlook depends largely on his health following the knee injuries that have interrupted his recent seasons. If he can demonstrate full physical recovery, his positional flexibility and special teams value could allow him to carve out a role on a contending roster during training camp or early in the regular season.