Blake Bortles is a former American football quarterback best known for his six seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jaguars selected Bortles with the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft after he led the University of Central Florida to one of the greatest seasons in program history.
His college career ended with a Fiesta Bowl victory over Baylor, while his professional career included more than 17,000 passing yards and a run to the AFC Championship Game.
Bortles spent most of his NFL career in Jacksonville, where he became one of the franchise’s most productive quarterbacks statistically.
His strongest team season came in 2017, when the Jaguars won the AFC South and advanced to the conference championship before losing 24 to 20 to the New England Patriots.
He later spent time with the Los Angeles Rams and had additional offseason or practice squad stops with other NFL teams before announcing his retirement in 2022.
Blake Bortles Biography
He was born on April 28, 1992, in Altamonte Springs, Florida, and grew up in nearby Oviedo. Blake Bortles attended Oviedo High School, where he developed into one of Central Florida’s leading quarterback prospects.
Bortles set Seminole County records with 5,576 career passing yards and 53 touchdown passes. He also played baseball during his high school years.
His parents are Rob and Suzy Bortles. Blake has a brother, Colby Bortles, who also pursued a professional sports career and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers organization in 2017.
Bortles initially attracted interest from several colleges because of his athletic ability. He ultimately chose the University of Central Florida, allowing him to remain close to his hometown while joining a program that was growing into a major force in college football.
He signed with UCF in 2010 and redshirted during his first season. He became the Knights’ starting quarterback in 2012 and quickly developed into one of the country’s most productive quarterbacks. Bortles studied interpersonal and organizational communication at UCF.
Career
Blake Bortles developed into a national prospect during three seasons at UCF. He appeared in 10 games in 2011 and earned Conference USA All-Freshman Team recognition.
His first full season as UCF’s starting quarterback came in 2012. Bortles led the Knights to a 10-win season, throwing for 3,059 yards and 25 touchdowns while adding eight rushing touchdowns.
He was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team and won MVP honors at the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl following UCF’s victory over Ball State.
His junior season in 2013 transformed him into one of the most important players in UCF football history. Bortles led UCF to a 12- 1 record and the American Athletic Conference championship.
He completed 259 of 382 passes for 3,581 yards and 25 touchdowns while rushing for 272 yards and six touchdowns.
He was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
The Fiesta Bowl Performance That Changed His NFL Future
UCF entered the 2014 Fiesta Bowl ranked No.15 and faced No.5 Baylor. Bortles delivered one of the defining performances of his college career.
He threw for 301 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for a career-high 93 yards and another touchdown.
UCF defeated Baylor 52 to 42, completing the most successful season in program history at that point. Bortles was named the Fiesta Bowl Offensive Player of the Game.
The victory elevated Bortles’ NFL profile considerably. He finished his UCF career with a 22- 5 record as a starting quarterback. After the Fiesta Bowl, he announced that he would enter the 2014 NFL Draft instead of returning for his senior season.
Blake Bortles and the 2014 NFL Draft The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Blake Bortles with the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. The selection made him the highest drafted player in UCF football history at the time.
He surpassed former UCF quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who had been selected 11th overall in 1999. Jacksonville selected Bortles as part of a major rebuilding project.
The franchise believed his combination of size, mobility and arm strength gave him the potential to become its long-term quarterback.
Bortles did not begin his rookie season as Jacksonville’s opening day starter, but he took over during the season and started 13 games.
He threw for 2,908 yards, 11 touchdowns and 17 interceptions as a rookie.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Bortles spent the majority of his NFL career with the Jaguars. He became Jacksonville’s full-time starter and produced some of the most productive passing seasons in franchise history.
Bortles produced his best statistical season in 2015. He threw for 4,428 yards and 35 touchdowns, both career highs. He also rushed for 310 yards and two touchdowns.
The season established him as one of the NFL’s most productive quarterbacks statistically, even though Jacksonville finished with a losing record.
Bortles followed with another high-volume season in 2016. He threw for 3,905 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding 359 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
The Jaguars continued to struggle collectively, and Bortles faced increasing scrutiny over turnovers and consistency.
His athletic ability remained a significant part of Jacksonville’s offense, particularly his capacity to extend plays and contribute as a runner.
The 2017 Jaguars and the AFC Championship Game The 2017 season became the defining team achievement of Blake Bortles’ NFL career.
Jacksonville finished 10 and 6, won the AFC South and returned to the playoffs for the first time since the 2007 season.
Bortles threw for 3,687 yards, 21 touchdowns and 13 interceptions during the regular season. He also rushed for 322 yards and two touchdowns.
The Jaguars won two playoff games and advanced to the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots.
Jacksonville led during the game but ultimately lost 24 to 20. The Jaguars reached the New England 38-yard line late in the fourth quarter, but their season ended one game short of the Super Bowl.
The 2017 playoff run remains the closest Bortles came to reaching the Super Bowl. His postseason performance also played a role in Jacksonville’s decision to extend his contract.
Jaguars Contract
Jacksonville signed Bortles to a contract extension in February 2018. The Jaguars announced that the deal would keep him under contract through the 2020 season.
Reports at the time described the contract as a three-year deal worth $54 million, with $26.5 million guaranteed and a maximum value of $66.5 million through incentives.
His rookie contract had been worth approximately $20.65 million over four years. According to Spotrac, Bortles earned approximately $48.4 million during his NFL career.
Bortles’ final season as Jacksonville’s primary quarterback came in 2018. He started 12 games and appeared in 13, throwing for 2,718 yards, 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Jacksonville finished the season 5-11, a major decline from its AFC Championship Game run the previous year.
The Jaguars released Bortles after the 2018 season. His departure marked the end of his five-year run as Jacksonville’s primary quarterback and opened the next stage of his professional career.
Final NFL Season
Bortles signed with the Los Angeles Rams for the 2019 season. He served primarily as Jared Goff’s backup and appeared in three games.
Bortles attempted two passes during the regular season and completed one for three yards. The Rams’ season was his final campaign in which he appeared in an NFL regular season game.
Bortles later had stops with NFL organizations including the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints, but he did not return to regular season action after 2019.
He officially announced his retirement in 2022. Bortles revealed the decision on the Pardon My Take podcast and said he had not touched a football since January of that year.
The NFL subsequently reported his retirement as the end of an eight-year professional journey that included six seasons with official regular season appearances.
Blake Bortles Wife
There is no reliable public evidence establishing Blake Bortles’ current marital status.
He has been linked publicly in the past to Lindsey Duke, but this has never been confirmed.
Bortles has kept much of his personal life away from public attention since leaving the NFL.
Blake Bortles Net Worth
Blake Bortles’ net worth is estimated at $40 million. His NFL contracts and reported career earnings provide a clearer picture of his documented professional income.
Spotrac lists Bortles’ career NFL earnings through 2026 at approximately $48.43 million. His earnings included a rookie contract worth approximately $20.65 million and the Jaguars extension reported at $54 million over three years, subject to the terms and conditions of the contract.
