Austin Blythe
{{Short description|American football player (born 1992)}}
{{For|Hong Kong baseball player|Austin Brice}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Austin Blythe
| image = Austin Blythe.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Blythe with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020
| number = 66, 63
| position = Center
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1992|6|16}}
| birth_place = Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.{{Cite web |title=Austin Blythe: "Really excited to get to work with everyone here" |url=https://www.chiefs.com/video/austin-blythe-really-excited-to-get-to-work-with-everyone-here-press-conference- |website=Chiefs.com}}
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 298
| high_school = Williamsburg {{avoid wrap|(Williamsburg, Iowa)}}
| college = Iowa
| draftyear = 2016
| draftround = 7
| draftpick = 248
| pastteams =
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2016}})
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|2017}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2021}})
- Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2022}})
| highlights =
- Second-team All-Big Ten (2015)
| status =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 75
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 49
| pfr = B/BlytAu00
}}
Austin Blythe (born June 16, 1992) is an American former professional football player who was a center for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft. He also played for the Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and Seattle Seahawks.
College career
Blythe was a four-year starter at the University of Iowa, appearing in 52 games. As a senior, he aided the Hawkeyes to a 12–0 start, earning a spot in the Big Ten Championship and the 2016 Rose Bowl. He was a finalist for the Rimington Award, which is given annually to the nation's top center, in his senior season.{{Cite web |title=Indianapolis Colts: Austin Blythe |url=http://www.colts.com/team/roster/Austin-Blythe/3d6fb05f-cfd9-4453-aba1-90183ab3c907 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519174547/http://www.colts.com/team/roster/Austin-Blythe/3d6fb05f-cfd9-4453-aba1-90183ab3c907 |archive-date=May 19, 2016 |website=Colts.com |accessdate=May 6, 2016}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2 1/8
| weight = 291
| dash = 5.36
| ten split = 1.80
| twenty split = 3.04
| shuttle = 4.53
| cone drill = 7.52
| vertical = 27.5
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 3
| bench = 29
| arm span = 30 1/4
| hand span = 9 3/8
| note = Bold denotes combine top performer
All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles – Austin Blythe |url=http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/austin-blythe?id=2555180 |website=National Football League |accessdate=May 6, 2016 |archive-date=October 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025094655/http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/austin-blythe?id=2555180 |url-status=bot: unknown }}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=119438&DraftYear=2016 |title=2016 NFL Draft Scout Austin Blythe College Football Profile |access-date=June 16, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Indianapolis Colts=
Blythe was drafted in the seventh round (248th overall) of the 2016 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts.{{Cite web |title=2016 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2016/draft.htm |access-date=February 25, 2019 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He signed his rookie contract with the Colts on May 5, 2016.{{Cite web |last=Bowen |first=Kevin |date=May 5, 2016 |title=Colts Agree To Terms With Four More Draft Picks |url=http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Colts-Agree-To-Terms-With-Four-More-Draft-Picks/17a6554d-a38e-4c14-ae94-f935b9c22713?sf25790559=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803122014/http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Colts-Agree-To-Terms-With-Four-More-Draft-Picks/17a6554d-a38e-4c14-ae94-f935b9c22713?sf25790559=1 |archive-date=August 3, 2016 |website=Colts.com |accessdate=May 6, 2016}} As a rookie in 2016, he served as a backup center behind fellow rookie Ryan Kelly. In the 2016 season, Blythe played in eight games with one start.
=Los Angeles Rams=
On May 16, 2017, Blythe was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Rams.{{Cite web |last=Langer, Travis |date=May 16, 2017 |title=Rams Make Moves to Construct 90-Man Roster |url=http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Make-Moves-to-Construct-90-Man-Roster/f01a8fa4-8988-47ab-a262-2b57cc7fdede |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821125216/http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Make-Moves-to-Construct-90-Man-Roster/f01a8fa4-8988-47ab-a262-2b57cc7fdede |archive-date=August 21, 2017 |access-date=May 17, 2017 |website=TheRams.com}} He played in all 16 games in 2017 and earned his first start of the season in Week 17 at left guard.{{Cite web |title=Austin Blythe 2017 Stats |url=http://www.nfl.com/player/austinblythe/2555180/gamelogs?season=2017 |website=NFL.com |accessdate=February 14, 2018}}{{Cite web |title=49ers vs. Rams - NFL Week 17 Game Highlights |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36j_PxlzrNA |website=Youtube.com |accessdate=February 14, 2018}}
Blythe entered the 2018 season as the starting right guard after incumbent starter Jamon Brown was suspended the first two games of the year. Upon Brown's return, Blythe maintained his starting role.{{Cite web |last=DaSilva |first=Cameron |date=September 21, 2018 |title=Austin Blythe remains Rams' starting RG, Jamon Brown to be backup |url=https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2018/09/21/nfl-los-angeles-rams-austin-blythe-jamon-brown-right-guard/ |access-date=October 29, 2018 |website=Rams Wire |publisher=USA Today}}
On March 26, 2020, Blythe re-signed with the Rams.{{Cite web |last=Alper, Josh |date=March 18, 2020 |title=Rams re-sign Austin Blythe |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/03/18/rams-re-sign-austin-blythe/ |website=Pro Football Talk |publisher=NBC Sports}}
=Kansas City Chiefs=
Blythe signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on April 5, 2021.{{Cite news |last=McMullen, Matt |date=April 5, 2021 |title=Five Things to Know About New Chiefs' Center Austin Blythe |work=Chiefs.com |url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/five-things-to-know-about-new-chiefs-center-austin-blythe |access-date=April 5, 2021}}
=Seattle Seahawks=
Blythe signed with the Seattle Seahawks on March 21, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-c-austin-blythe|title=Seahawks Sign C Austin Blythe |date=March 21, 2022|accessdate=March 22, 2022|work=Seahawks.com}}
Blythe played and started 17 games in his one season with the Seahawks. He also started in the wild card round for the Seahawks.
On February 28, 2023, Blythe announced his retirement from the NFL after seven seasons.{{cite web|title=Austin Blythe announces his retirement|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/02/28/austin-blythe-announces-his-retirement/|author=Alper, Josh|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=February 28, 2023}}
Personal life
Blythe is a graduate of Williamsburg (Iowa) High School, where he was a two-time all-state football player at center and a three-time state champion in wrestling.Batterson, Steve, "Iowa's Blythe an ironman on the offensive line," November 4, 2015. Sioux City Journal, November 4, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2018.[http://siouxcityjournal.com/sports/football/iowa-s-blythe-an-ironman-on-the-offensive-line/article_b1161c28-865f-557a-ba85-2e5c59c9af56.html]{{Cite web |date=January 29, 2020 |title=2020 Wrestling Stat Book |url=https://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Wrestling-Stat-Book-2020-1.29.20.pdf |access-date=September 1, 2020 |publisher=Iowa High School Athletic Association}} He married Kiley Ritchie, daughter of his high school football coach, in 2015. The two had known each other since elementary school, but did not begin dating until college.Letistkow, Chad, "Hawkeye leftovers: Blythe is married, Greg Davis talk and more," Hawekeye Central, August 3, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2018. [https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/iowa/football/2015/08/03/austin-blythe-kirk-ferentz-greg-davis-drew-ott-big-ten-media-days/31075363/] In June 2016, he and his wife had a son. In January 2020, he and his wife had their second child, a daughter. In October 2022, the couple welcomed their third child, a daughter, into the world.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160330133540/http://www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/austin_blythe_769338.html Iowa Hawkeyes bio]
{{Indianapolis Colts 2016 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blythe, Austin}}
Category:People from Williamsburg, Iowa
Category:Players of American football from Iowa
Category:American football centers
Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football players
Category:Indianapolis Colts players
Category:Los Angeles Rams players