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

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

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 gu ...

for the

Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. They play the ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

Northwestern Wildcats The Northwestern Wildcats are the athletic teams that represent Northwestern University, located in Evanston, Illinois. Northwestern is a founding member of the Big Ten Conference and one of two private universities in the conference, the other ...

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–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...

as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager 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 a contract at present ...

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 of the National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...

, where he spent the rest of

training camp A training camp is an organized period in which military personnel or athletes participate in a rigorous and focused schedule of training in order to learn or improve skills. Athletes typically utilise training camps to prepare for upcoming events ...

, being waived on August 31.

Jacksonville Jaguars

On September 1, 2019, Hance was signed by 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 of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team ...

to their

practice squad In gridiron football, the practice squad, also called the taxi squad or practice roster, is a group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. They serve as extra players during the team's practices, often as part of the scou ...

, 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 of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...

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. The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team is named after ...

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 virus that cases COVID-19 and is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The two main types of tests detect either the presence of the viru ...

, 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 of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. Founded in 1933 P ...

. 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 professional football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sooners ...

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 professional American football, football Guard (gridiron football), guard for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nevada Wolf ...

. 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 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 and nicknamed the 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 ...

. He appeared in seven games with the 49ers, and was later waived on October 29.

Jacksonville Jaguars (second stint)

On November 1, 2022, Hance was claimed off waivers by the Jaguars. On August 27, 2024, Hance was released by the Jaguars and re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on October 29. Hance appeared in 35 games during his three seasons with the Jaguars.

Tennessee Titans

On March 13, 2025, Hance signed with the

on a one-year, $1.3 million contract.

References

External links

Tennessee Titans bioNorthwestern 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 Tennessee Titans players Washington Redskins players