Christian Elliss (born January 2, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Idaho and was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings. He is the son of former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Luther Elliss and has three brothers that also play in the NFL: Kaden, Noah, and Jonah.
| No. 53 – New England Patriots | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | January 2, 1999 Rochester Hills, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 231 lb (105 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colorado) | ||||||||||
| College: | Idaho (2017–2020) | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2021 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2024 | |||||||||||
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Early life and education
editElliss was born on January 2, 1999, in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, to Luther and Rebecca Elliss. He was the third-oldest of 12 children. His older brother Kaden plays for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League (NFL).[1] He attended high school at Valor Christian, leading his team to the state final as a senior, and earning the South Metro co-Defensive Player of the Year award.[2] Following high school, Elliss accepted a scholarship offer from University of Idaho.
As a true freshman in 2017, playing for their Idaho Vandals football team, Elliss played in eleven games, recording 30 tackles and one interception. He gained a starting position as a sophomore, playing in all eleven games as a starter at the middle linebacker position. He led the team with 81 tackles and was named All-Big Sky. He changed to outside linebacker as a junior, starting all eleven games and earning first-team All-Big Sky honors. He led the team with 4.5 sacks and placed second with 104 tackles. The 2020 season was canceled, but later a spring 2021 schedule was announced. In a shortened 2021 season with five games, Elliss made 50 tackles and was selected to first-team All-Big Sky for the second consecutive season.[1]
Professional career
edit| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 1+3⁄4 in (1.87 m) |
228 lb (103 kg) |
31+3⁄4 in (0.81 m) |
9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) |
4.58 s | 1.63 s | 2.63 s | 4.29 s | 6.94 s | 35.5 in (0.90 m) |
10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) |
22 reps | |
| All values come from college pro day.[3] | ||||||||||||
Minnesota Vikings
editFollowing the 2021 NFL draft, where Elliss went unselected, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings.[4] Following a preseason game, he was fined $3,731 for an unnecessary roughness penalty.[5] He was released two days later on August 23.[6]
Philadelphia Eagles
editElliss was signed to the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles on September 9.[7] He was released on October 6, but re-signed with the practice squad five days later.[8] He was released on October 18.[9]
San Francisco 49ers
editOn November 3, 2021, Elliss was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad, but was released a week later.[10][11]
Philadelphia Eagles (second stint)
editElliss was re-signed to the practice squad of the Eagles on November 24.[12] Elliss made his NFL debut on January 8, 2022, in the Eagles' week 18 game against the Dallas Cowboys, collecting 3 combined tackles in the 51–26 loss.[13] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles on January 18, 2022.[14]
On August 30, 2022, Elliss was waived by the Eagles and signed to the practice squad the next day.[15][16] He was elevated to the active roster for their week thirteen game against the Tennessee Titans, and was a key player on special teams, making five total tackles and helping block for punt returner Britain Covey as he had the second-best single-game return average on the season.[17] He was signed to the active roster on December 23. Elliss finished the 2022 regular season with six games played and 11 total tackles.[18]
Elliss was waived by the Eagles on December 6, 2023, following the signing of Shaquille Leonard.[19]
New England Patriots
editOn December 7, 2023, Elliss was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots.[20]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Christian Elliss - Football". University of Idaho Athletics. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ Fromm, Courtney (February 11, 2023). "Valor Christian High School graduate 1st alum to play in Super Bowl". KDVR. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ "Christian Elliss, Idaho, OLB, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ Peters, Craig (August 11, 2021). "Water Break with Christian Elliss". Vikings.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ Tomasson, Chris (August 21, 2021). "Vikings LB Christian Elliss fined $3,731 by NFL for unnecessary roughness". Twin Cities. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- ^ Gowton, Brandon Lee (September 9, 2021). "Eagles practice squad news: Center cut, linebacker added". Bleeding Green Nation. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ McPherson, Chris (September 9, 2021). "Eagles sign LB Christian Elliss to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ McPherson, Chris (October 11, 2021). "Eagles sign LB Christian Elliss, TE Noah Togiai to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
- ^ McPherson, Chris (October 18, 2021). "Eagles sign WR Deon Cain to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "49ers Open Practice Windows for Gould, Kittle and Wilson Jr". 49ers.com. November 3, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "49ers Place Mike McGlinchey on IR and Make a Series of Roster Moves". 49ers.com. November 10, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ Bowman, Paul (November 24, 2021). "Davion Taylor Lands On IR". SportsTalkPhilly.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles - January 8th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ McPherson, Chris (January 18, 2022). "Eagles sign 11 players to Reserve/Futures contracts". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ McPherson, Chris (August 30, 2022). "Eagles announce initial 53-man roster". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ McPherson, Chris (August 31, 2022). "Eagles sign 15 players to the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ Kracz, Ed (December 5, 2022). "Christian Elliss' Elevation Lifts Britain Covey, Eagles Special Team Units". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "Christian Elliss 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ Boyle, Owen. "Eagles officially sign Shaquille Leonard, waive Christian Elliss". Philadelphia Eagles. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ Bouda, Nate (December 7, 2023). "Patriots Claim LB Christian Elliss Off Waivers From Eagles". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved December 8, 2023.