Brian Blades was a former American football wide receiver who played for the Seattle Seahawks for ten seasons. He was born on July 24, 1965, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and attended the University of Miami, where he played college football.
Blades was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as a reliable receiver, and in his rookie season, he caught 44 passes for 827 yards and seven touchdowns. He continued to improve over the next few seasons, and in 1992, he had his best year, catching 81 passes for 1,049 yards and seven touchdowns.
Blades was known for his excellent hands and his ability to make tough catches in traffic. He was also a good route runner and had the speed to get behind defenses. He was a favorite target of Seahawks quarterback Dave Krieg, and the two had a great rapport on the field.
Blades was a consistent performer throughout his career, and he finished his time with the Seahawks with 581 receptions for 7,620 yards and 34 touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1989 and 1990 and was a second-team All-Pro in 1992.
Off the field, Blades was involved in a tragic incident in 1996 when his cousin, Bennie Blades, was involved in a shooting that left one man dead. Brian Blades was present at the scene and was charged with obstructing justice for his role in the aftermath of the shooting. He was eventually acquitted of the charges, but the incident cast a shadow over his career.
Blades retired from football after the 1998 season and has since stayed out of the public eye. He is remembered as one of the best receivers in Seahawks history and was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor in 2004.
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