Elijah Cooks Bio
Elijah Stephen Cooks is an American professional football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nevada Wolf Pack before transferring to the San Jose State Spartans and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars after the 2023 NFL Draft.
Early Life and Background
Elijah Cooks was born on October 13, 1998, in Santa Maria, California. He initially attended St. Joseph High School, where he participated in both football and basketball. Midway through his tenth-grade year, he moved to Atascadero and transferred to Atascadero High School. As a senior at Atascadero in 2016, Cooks recorded 56 catches for 966 yards and 15 touchdowns, earning the Pac 5 Offensive Player of the Year award.
Path to American Football
Cooks committed to play football for the University of Nevada at Reno on February 1, 2017, choosing Nevada over other schools such as Hawaii, Wyoming, Fresno State, and San Jose State. During his five seasons at Nevada from 2017 to 2021, he accumulated 115 receptions for 1,478 yards and 18 touchdowns. Although he played 35 games from 2017 to 2019, he sat out the entire 2020 season due to a shoulder injury. In 2021, Cooks participated in three games before suffering a season-ending injury. He also briefly joined the Nevada Wolf Pack men’s basketball team in the 2017–18 season as a temporary replacement for an injured player.
Elijah Cooks Career
Early Career (2023)
After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft, Elijah Cooks signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2023. He made the initial 53-man roster announced by the Jaguars on August 29, 2023. Cooks was waived by the Jaguars on August 27, 2024, but was re-signed to the practice squad shortly thereafter.
Breakthrough (2024)
On January 14, 2025, Cooks was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad, where he signed a reserve/future contract on February 14. However, he was waived by the Eagles on August 26, 2025, as part of the final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. He was released on September 8, 2025.
Notable Works and Milestones
Elijah Cooks had a standout college career, highlighted by his selection as a first-team All-Mountain West Conference player in 2022. His transition to professional football began with his signing by the Jacksonville Jaguars, marking the start of his NFL career.
Elijah Cooks Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Elijah Cooks has received recognition for his performance on the field, including being named a first-team All-Mountain West Conference player in 2022.
Elijah Cooks Awards Won
Elijah Cooks has achieved notable recognition in his football career, including the first-team All-Mountain West Conference award in 2022, which highlights his skills as a wide receiver.
Elijah Cooks Family
Information regarding Elijah Cooks’ family background is limited, and specific details about his parents or siblings are not publicly available.
Personal Life
Elijah Cooks maintains a low profile regarding his personal life. There are no publicly available details about his marital status or relationships.