Jeff Blake

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Blake's time in Cincinnati began unexpectedly after injuries to David Klingler and Donald Hollas thrust him into the starting role during an 0–7 start in 1994. He responded with a narrow 23–20 loss against the Dallas Cowboys, throwing for 243 yards and two touchdowns. Over the next few seasons, he formed a potent connection with Carl Pickens, who vied for the receiving title in 1995 thanks to Blake's precision. The 1996 season stood out as the only year between 1991 and 2002 where the team avoided a losing record, finishing 8–8. His performance was so impactful that one writer argued it swayed Hamilton County voters in March 1996 to approve a sales tax increase for a new stadium. Despite signing a lucrative five-year, $13.1 million contract, frustration with management eventually led him to leave the Bengals as a free agent after the 1999 season.

In Their Own Story

The turning point of Blake's career arrived in 1995 when he was named the starter and immediately established great chemistry with his receiving corps. That year, he threw for 3,822 yards and 28 touchdowns to just 17 interceptions, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl. It was during this era that Blake set an enduring record for the longest Pro Bowl touchdown at 93 yards. His play on the field resonated beyond the gridiron; his success helped drive the community support necessary to fund the Bengals' new stadium, which opened in 2000. Although he shared time with Boomer Esiason in 1997 and Neil O'Donnell in 1998, Blake returned as the primary starter in 1999 after the team drafted Akili Smith. Even though he went 3–9 that final year in Cincinnati, his legacy was cemented by his ability to keep the offense competitive and his unique contribution to the franchise's history.

Reader's Guide

Jeff Blake played for seven different teams across his 14-season career, but his longest and most significant tenure was with the Cincinnati Bengals from 1994 to 1999. He started 100 games in his career, accumulating 21,711 passing yards, 134 touchdowns, and 99 interceptions. A mobile quarterback, he also ran for 2,027 career rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. After leaving Cincinnati, he played for the New Orleans Saints (2000–2001), Baltimore Ravens (2002), Arizona Cardinals (2003), Philadelphia Eagles, and Chicago Bears (2005). In his final NFL appearance with the Bears in 2005, he replaced rookie Kyle Orton in the fourth quarter of the last regular-season game, completing eight of nine passes. His journey began at East Carolina University, where he led the Pirates to an 11-win season and a #9 AP ranking in 1991.

Did You Know?

• Blake holds the record for the longest Pro Bowl touchdown at 93 yards.
• He was selected by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 1992 NFL draft, but his first two seasons were brief before he joined the Bengals.
• His mother died on July 5, 1976, when she tried to rescue a younger sibling from drowning at Wekiwa Springs State Park.
• Blake's son Emory won a national championship with Auburn in 2010, and Blake threw footballs for him during Auburn's Pro Day.
• In 1995, his play helped influence voters in Hamilton County to approve a sales tax increase that funded the new Bengals stadium.