Pats Pulpit
Since long-time head coach Bill Belichick’s departure in January 2024, the New England Patriots’ roster has undergone significant change. In fact, only 12 players from that season are still around.
One of them is Christian Elliss, who joined the team as a waiver claim during Belichick’s final campaign and has carved out a valuable role since then.
Name: Christian Elliss
Position: Off-ball linebacker
Jersey number: 53
Opening day age: 27 (1/2/1999)
Measurements: 6’1 3/4”, 231 lbs, 9 1/2” hand size, 31 3/4” arm length, 75 1/2” wingspan, 4.58s 40-yard dash, 6.94s 3-cone drill, 4.29s short shuttle, 35 1/2” vertical jump, 10’0” broad jump, 22 bench press reps, 8.91 Relative Athletic Score
NFL: Minnesota Vikings (2021), Philadelphia Eagles (2021; 2021-23), San Francisco 49ers (2021), New England Patriots (2023-) | College: Idaho (2017-20)
The third-oldest of former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Luther Elliss’ 12 children, Elliss was rated a two-star outside linebacker recruit coming out of Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, CO. He received limited interest from colleges, eventually ending up in Division I via a scholarship offer from Idaho. In four seasons with the Vandals, he appeared in 38 games with 28 starts and was twice named first-team All-Big Sky.
His college performance did not lead to Elliss getting selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, but it did open the door for him getting signed as a rookie free agent by the Vikings. His stint in Minnesota lasted fewer than four months, however, and he was cut ahead of the 53-man roster deadline.
He subsequently found his way to Philadelphia and San Francisco, joining both teams’ practice squad at the time, before a return to the Eagles toward the tail-end of the 2021 season. Elliss continued to live on the fringes of the team’s roster over the next two years, but he did start to make a name for himself as a quality special teamer.
That did not save him from getting cut in December 2023, however. After 22 combined regular season and playoff game appearances as an Eagle, Elliss took his talents elsewhere — or, to be more precise, saw his talents snatched by another club after Philadelphia exposed him to waivers. That club was, of course, the Patriots, who took advantage of their second position in the waiver claim order at the time to beat out five other teams for his services.
Exclusively a special teamer in his first four games in Foxborough, Elliss was retained as an exclusive rights and a restricted free agent in back-to-back offseasons since. In between, he developed into a starter-level off-ball linebacker besides retaining an active role in the kicking game. Heading into 2026, he has appeared in 39 total games for the Patriots.
Strengths: At under 6-foot-2 and 231 pounds, Ellis might be a bit on the smaller side but he makes up for it with good movement skills and physicality. He is a fast player at the second level who provides...
