Blake Costanzo
A tenacious NFL linebacker who carved out a seven-year career through sheer special teams grit, becoming a core member of storied units.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American football player·Birthday: April 14·Millennials
Biography
Blake Costanzo's path to the NFL was not through the draft spotlight but through relentless hustle. An undrafted free agent out of Lafayette College, he made his name not as a defensive starter but as a special teams demon—a coverage ace who flew down the field with controlled fury. His value was in tackles, effort, and a palpable energy that made him a locker room favorite. Costanzo became a journeyman by necessity, playing for six teams, but found his most notable home with the San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears, where his units were consistently among the league's best. His career is a blueprint for longevity built on embracing a specific, punishing role with total commitment.
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 1984, 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 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Blake's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
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
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
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
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 102 NFL games over seven seasons primarily as a special teams standout for six different franchises.
- Was a key member of the San Francisco 49ers' special teams unit that helped the team reach the NFC Championship game in the 2011 season.
- Earned the 'Special Teams Player of the Year' award for the Cleveland Browns in 2009.
Did You Know?
He was a standout wrestler in high school in New Jersey, winning a state championship.
Costanzo appeared on the reality TV show 'The Bachelorette' in 2019 during a group date segment.
After football, he co-founded a performance training company called 'Test Football Academy'.
“You earn your spot on the plane every week by how you play on teams.”
