Blake Bortles
A quarterback who led a long-suffering franchise to the brink of the Super Bowl with a gunslinging, unpredictable style that captivated fans.
Born 1992 (age 34)·American football player·Birthday: April 28·Millennials
Biography
Blake Bortles emerged from the University of Central Florida not as a polished prospect, but as a raw, big-bodied quarterback with a knack for improvisation. Drafted third overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014, he became the face of a franchise in the doldrums. His career was a rollercoaster of breathtaking deep throws and perplexing turnovers, embodying a high-risk, high-reward philosophy. The peak came in 2017, when he powered a physically dominant Jaguars team to the AFC Championship game, playing with a fearless, almost backyard-football joy that made him a cult hero. While his starting tenure eventually faded, Bortles left an indelible mark as the quarterback who finally made Jacksonville relevant, proving that an unorthodox path could still lead to the league's biggest stages.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Blake was born in 1992, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Blake Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Blake's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2005Became a teenager
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Turned 21
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2022Turned 30
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected third overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2014 NFL Draft.
- Led the Jaguars to the AFC Championship game in the 2017 season.
- Threw for over 35,000 yards and 103 touchdowns in his NFL career.
- Named the AAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2013 at UCF.
Did You Know?
He was a standout baseball player in high school and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009.
Bortles famously lived with two of his offensive linemen during his rookie season in Jacksonville.
He holds the UCF Knights record for career passing yards and touchdowns.
His younger brother, Colby, also played quarterback at UCF.
“I'm not a robot. I'm not perfect. I'm going to make mistakes.”
