Don Blackmon
Encyclopedia
Donald Kirk "Don" Blackmon (born March 14, 1958 in Pompano Beach, Florida
) is an American football
coach and former linebacker
. Most recently he was the defensive coordinator
for the New York Sentinels
of the United Football League.
in the 4th round of the 1981 NFL Draft
. A 6'3". 235 lbs. linebacker
from the University of Tulsa
, Blackmon played his entire NFL career for the Patriots. He started 72-of-89 games and recorded 541 tackles, 30.5 sacks, and five INT’s before being forced to retire after a neck injury in a game against the Raiders in 1987. He was on the Patriots AFC title team in 1986. Blackmon was a three time all-conference selection at the Tulsa and has been named to the school’s Hall of Fame.
Pompano Beach, Florida
Pompano Beach ) is a city in Broward County, Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean just to the north of Fort Lauderdale. The nearby Hillsboro Inlet forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 99,845...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach and former linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
. Most recently he was the defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
for the New York Sentinels
New York Sentinels
The New York Sentinels and Hartford Colonials are a currently inactive professional American football team that played in the United Football League in its 2009 and 2010 seasons...
of the United Football League.
Playing career
Blackmon was selected by the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in the 4th round of the 1981 NFL Draft
1981 NFL Draft
The 1981 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 28–29, 1981...
. A 6'3". 235 lbs. linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
from the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
, Blackmon played his entire NFL career for the Patriots. He started 72-of-89 games and recorded 541 tackles, 30.5 sacks, and five INT’s before being forced to retire after a neck injury in a game against the Raiders in 1987. He was on the Patriots AFC title team in 1986. Blackmon was a three time all-conference selection at the Tulsa and has been named to the school’s Hall of Fame.