Professional career
Blanchard was selected by the New York Giants in 12th round of the 1971 NFL draft. [5] He stated, "I was shocked that I was drafted at all," adding that his dream was to become a quarterback in the NFL. [6] He immediately became the team's primary punter, demonstrating solid hang time and consistent kicking. His average of 40.6 yards per punt was comparable to most NFL punters at the time. [5] He also served as the Giants' holder on field goals. During his tenure, only two of his punts were blocked, and his longest punt measured 62 yards in 1973, earning him a strong reputation with the team. Over three seasons with the Giants, he averaged 41.7 yards per punt, and recorded 169 punts. [5] He was beaten out for the punting position during the 1974 preseason by rookie Dave Jennings and was subsequently waived. [7] [8]
After being released by the Giants, Blanchard was signed by the Saints for one game in the 1974 season after the Saints waived their opening-day punter, Donnie Gibbs, following a fumbled snap that contributed to the team’s first loss of the season. [9] He went on to establish himself as one of the league's more dependable punters, eventually topping the list for the most punts by a Saints punter all-time. [10] Blanchard was a member of the 1974 NFC All-Pro 2nd team. [11] Over his four seasons with New Orleans, he posted some of the best numbers of his career. [5] In 1974, he recorded a 71-yard punt, the longest by any punter that season. [5] In 1975, he led the NFL with 3,776 punting yards, and in 1976, he led the league with 101 punts. In 1977, he threw a 3 yard, touchdown pass to Elois Grooms, a defensive end, on a fake field goal. Over his five years with the Saints, he averaged 41.4 yards per punt, punted 447 times, and threw one passing touchdown. [5]
He was traded by the Saints to the Buccaneers for a draft pick before the 1979 season, after the Saints drafted placekicker Russell Erxleben, who was also able to punt, in the first round of the 1979 NFL draft. [12] Blanchard said, "I was kind of nervous," going into the first game of the season which was against the Saints. [13] Tampa Bay, an expansion team from 1974 that had struggled in recent years, put together an impression 1979 season, and made the playoffs. Blanchard averaged 39.5 yards per punt, with a season long of 64 yards, punting 92 times. [5]
The 1980 season would be Blanchard's last full season. The team struggled to a 5-10-1 record, and he punted 87 times, averaging 39.3 yards per punt, with a longest of 58 yarder. [5] The 1981 season proved to be his final in the NFL. He opened the season strong, posting a career personal best average of 47 yards per punt in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings. [14] However, in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs, a bad snap on 4th down forced Blanchard to attempt a scramble with the ball, and multiple defenders wrapped him up in the tackle. [15] This play appeared to leave him shaken, and he later fumbled in the 4th quarter. [16] It is not official that he was injured in Week 2, as he continued to play in Week 3, but that game would be his last. In his final appearance, he punted 5 times for just 181 yards, a 36.2-yard average. [17] Blanchard was later listed with a strained hamstring on the injury report, and soon after, while recovering, he was waived by the Buccaneers on October 20th, 1981, with Larry Swider taking his job in the interim. [18]
Tom Blanchard came to be regarded as a punter who received limited publicity but was very strong at his position. [19] Throughout his career, Blanchard played in 148 games, recorde, 819 punts for 33,794 yards, averaged 41.3 yards per punt, had 12 blocks, logged 108 touchbacks, and recorded a longest punt of 71. [5]
His two sons, Tommy (the eldest) and Jimmy (five years the junior) both were starting quarterbacks at Grants Pass High School and led their respective teams to the playoffs. [20] Tommy's son, Jace, also played quarterback at Grants Pass High School. [20] After retiring as a player, Blanchard spent time as the football coach, softball coach, and athletic director at Grants Pass High School. [21] [22] He retired from these positions in 2013, and resides in Grants Pass, Oregon. [22]
