Blake Andrew Hance (born January 11, 1996) is an

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

guard Guard or guards may refer to: Professional occupations * Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault * Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street * Lifeguard, who rescues people from drowning * Prison ...

for the

Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division. The team play ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

(NFL). He played

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

at Northwestern.

Professional career

Buffalo Bills

After playing four years at Northwestern, Hance was signed by the

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. ...

as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

on May 9, 2019. However, he was soon released on May 22.

Washington Football Team

On June 3, 2019, Hance was signed by the

Washington Football Team The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) E ...

, where he spent the rest of training camp, being waived on August 31.

Jacksonville Jaguars

On September 1, 2019, Hance was signed by the

to their practice squad, where he spent the entire 2019 season. Afterward, he was signed to a reserve/futures contract on January 2, 2020, but was waived on September 5.

New York Jets

On September 22, 2020, Hance was signed by the

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The J ...

to their practice squad.

Cleveland Browns

On January 2, 2021, Hance was signed by the

Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference ( ...

from the Jets' practice squad. Because of injuries and players inactive due to positive

COVID-19 tests COVID-19 testing involves analyzing samples to assess the current or past presence of SARS-CoV-2. The two main types of tests detect either the presence of the virus or antibodies produced in response to infection. Molecular tests for viral p ...

, he was activated for the Browns' playoff game against the

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in , the Steel ...

. He made his NFL debut in the fourth quarter, playing 14 snaps. Browns quarterback

Baker Mayfield Baker Reagan Mayfield (born April 14, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Following a stint with Texas Tech, Mayfield played college football at Oklahoma, where he won the Hei ...

complimented Hance while noting they had not had a chance to practice together. "We had Michael Dunn step in at left guard for

Joel Bitonio Joel Michael Bitonio (born October 11, 1991) is an American football Guard (gridiron football), guard for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Browns in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He play ...

. And then, Michael got hurt and a guy named Blake, that I introduced myself to literally in the locker room before the game, stepped up in the fourth quarter." The Browns placed an

exclusive-rights free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

tender on Hance on March 7, 2022. Hance was waived by the Browns on August 30, 2022.

San Francisco 49ers

On August 31, 2022, Hance was claimed off waivers by the

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National ...

. He was waived on October 29.

Jacksonville Jaguars (second stint)

On November 1, 2022, Hance was claimed off waivers by the

References

External links

Northwestern Wildcats bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hance, Blake 1996 births Living people American football offensive guards American football offensive tackles Buffalo Bills players Cleveland Browns players Jacksonville Jaguars players New York Jets players Northwestern Wildcats football players People from Jacksonville, Illinois Players of American football from Illinois San Francisco 49ers players Washington Redskins players