Christian Elliss Bio
Christian Elliss (born January 2, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and listed at 231 lb (105 kg), he plays the linebacker position wearing jersey number 53. He played college football for the Idaho Vandals before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
Elliss is the son of former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Luther Elliss and has three brothers who also play in the NFL: Kaden, Noah, and Jonah. His journey from undrafted signee to multi-year contributor reflects steady development across several rosters before establishing himself in New England.
Early Life and Background
Christian Elliss was born on January 2, 1999, in Rochester Hills, Michigan, to parents Luther and Rebecca Elliss. He was the third-oldest of 12 children, growing up in a large family with a clear football heritage through his father’s NFL career as a Detroit Lions defensive tackle. His older brother Kaden plays for the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League.
He attended Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where he led his team to the state championship game as a senior. That senior season earned him the South Metro co-Defensive Player of the Year award, recognition that helped secure his college opportunity. Following high school, Elliss accepted a scholarship offer from the University of Idaho to play for the Idaho Vandals.
Path to American Football
Elliss arrived at the University of Idaho in 2017 and quickly contributed as a true freshman, playing in eleven games and recording 30 tackles with one interception. As a sophomore, he earned a starting role at middle linebacker, played all eleven games, and led the team with 81 tackles while earning All-Big Sky honors.
He shifted to outside linebacker as a junior, starting every game and posting 4.5 sacks to go with 104 tackles, placing second on the team in tackles and earning first-team All-Big Sky recognition. After the 2020 season was canceled, a shortened spring 2021 schedule followed, during which Elliss made 50 tackles across five games and was selected first-team All-Big Sky for the second consecutive year.
Christian Elliss Career
Early Career (2021)
Following the 2021 NFL Draft, Christian Elliss went unselected and signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. After appearing in a preseason game, he was fined for an unnecessary roughness penalty and released on August 23, 2021.
He was quickly picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad on September 9, 2021, and shuttled between practice squad and released status before landing with the San Francisco 49ers practice squad in November 2021. That stint lasted a week, and he returned to the Eagles practice squad on November 24, 2021, setting the stage for his first NFL active roster opportunity.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2021-2023)
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. He signed a reserve/future contract with Philadelphia on January 18, 2022, and continued to develop through special teams contributions.
In 2022, Elliss was elevated to the active roster for a week thirteen matchup against the Tennessee Titans and made five tackles while helping block for punt returner Britain Covey. He finished that regular season with six games played and 11 total tackles before being waived on December 6, 2023, following the Eagles’ signing of Shaquille Leonard.
New England Patriots Era (2023-Present)
On December 7, 2023, Christian Elliss was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots. The following season, he became a starting linebacker after an injury to Ja’Whaun Bentley, starting six games and racking up a career-high 80 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 5 passes defended, and one interception against Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson.
On March 24, 2025, the New England Patriots matched an offer sheet from the Las Vegas Raiders to retain Elliss on a two-year, $13.5 million contract that runs through 2027. He appeared in Super Bowl LX, recording three tackles in the 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Driving Style and Strengths
Elliss has built his NFL résumé largely through special teams reliability and tackling volume at the linebacker position. His strengths include run support, sideline-to-sideline pursuit, and coverage awareness, which translated into career-high tackle production when given extended starting opportunities in New England.
Notable Events and Milestones
Signature milestones include his NFL debut against the Dallas Cowboys in January 2022, his first career interception off Anthony Richardson in 2024, and his appearance in Super Bowl LX. The two-year, $13.5 million contract the Patriots matched in March 2025 marked his largest professional validation to date.
Christian Elliss Career Stats
Through the 2025 NFL season, Christian Elliss has accumulated 211 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception, and 8 pass deflections across his NFL career. His most productive statistical year came in 2024 with the New England Patriots, when he set a career high with 80 tackles and recorded his first career interception.
Christian Elliss Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Christian Elliss is the son of Luther Elliss, a former Detroit Lions defensive tackle, and Rebecca Elliss. He grew up as the third-oldest of 12 children in a football-centered household. Three of his brothers also play in the NFL: Kaden, Noah, and Jonah, with Kaden currently playing for the New Orleans Saints.
Personal Life
Public details about Christian Elliss’s personal life are limited beyond his family and football commitments. He was born and raised in Michigan before moving to Colorado for high school at Valor Christian, and he later attended the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.
2025 Season Performance
Christian Elliss entered the 2025 season having secured his roster spot through the matched two-year, $13.5 million contract in March 2025. His role with the New England Patriots continued to feature tackling volume and special teams duties, with the team building around his linebacker versatility.
The Patriots’ season culminated in a Super Bowl LX appearance against the Seattle Seahawks, where Elliss posted three tackles in the 29-13 defeat. His career arc from undrafted free agent to Super Bowl participant underscores the development New England has invested in since claiming him off waivers in December 2023.
