Ezekiel Elliott Bio
Ezekiel Elijah Elliott, nicknamed “Zeke,” is an American professional football running back born on July 22, 1995, in Alton, Illinois. He played college football at Ohio State University, where he developed into one of the most complete running backs in the country. Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys as the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Elliott quickly became a standout player, earning three Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro honors. He led the league in rushing yards in 2016 and 2018, establishing himself as a premier offensive weapon.
After a successful seven-season run with the Cowboys, Elliott was released following the 2022 season and joined the New England Patriots in 2023. He returned to Dallas in 2024 before being released late in the year. In January 2025, Elliott signed with the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad, continuing his veteran presence in the league.
Early Life and Background
Ezekiel Elijah Elliott was born in Alton, Illinois, to Stacy Elliott and Dawn Huff. Both of his parents were college athletes. His mother, Dawn Huff, was a high school state champion in three sports and later ran track at the University of Missouri. His father, Stacy, played linebacker for the Missouri football team and later became CEO of Fifth Down Enterprises. Elliott’s maternal grandfather played basketball for Drake University, and his uncle, Shawn Huff, is a Finnish professional basketball player.
Despite his athletic pedigree, Elliott attended the academically focused John Burroughs School in Ladue, Missouri. There he was a three-sport star in football, basketball, and track and field, and he also played baseball. As a junior in 2012, he was named the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offensive player of the year after rushing for 1,802 yards and 34 touchdowns. In his senior season, he produced 3,061 all-purpose yards and 50 total touchdowns, including 2,155 rushing yards and 40 rushing touchdowns.
On the track, Elliott was equally dominant, winning four state championships in 2+1/2 hours at the Missouri Class 3 state meet in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 110-meter high hurdles, and 300-meter hurdles. He was named Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year in Missouri. Considered a four-star recruit, he was listed as the No. 9 running back in the nation for 2013 and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl before choosing Ohio State over Missouri.
Path to the NFL
As a true freshman at Ohio State in 2013, Elliott rushed for 262 yards on 30 carries with two touchdowns while backing up starter Carlos Hyde. In 2014, with Hyde’s departure, Elliott took over as the starter and rushed for more than 100 yards six times during the regular season. He exploded in the postseason, rushing for 220 yards against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game, 230 yards against Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and 246 yards with four touchdowns against Oregon in the College Football Playoff National Championship. He was named Offensive MVP of both the Sugar Bowl and the national title game as the Buckeyes captured the 2014 College Football Playoff championship.
In 2015, Elliott opened the season with 10 straight 100-yard rushing performances and earned Big Ten Most Valuable Player, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, and Big Ten Running Back of the Year honors. He finished his college career with 3,961 rushing yards and 43 rushing touchdowns, second in career rushing yards at Ohio State only to Archie Griffin. Following a 214-yard performance against rival Michigan, he announced he would enter the 2016 NFL draft.
Ezekiel Elliott Career
Early Career (2016)
Selected by the Dallas Cowboys as the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Elliott signed a four-year rookie contract worth $24.9 million with a $16.3 million signing bonus. He was named the starter over veterans Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden and opened the year with a rushing touchdown against the New York Giants. By Week 3, he posted his first 100-yard game against the Chicago Bears, and he eventually became only the second Cowboys rookie to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, joining Tony Dorsett.
Elliott led the NFL in rushing with 1,631 yards, scored 15 rushing touchdowns, and earned First-team All-Pro, a Pro Bowl selection, and PFWA NFL Rookie of the Year honors. He finished as the highest-ranked running back on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.
Dallas Cowboys Breakthrough (2016-2018)
In his first three seasons, Elliott was a workhorse for one of the league’s top offensive lines. After a 2017 season shortened by a six-game suspension, he returned in dominant form in 2018, leading the NFL in rushing once again with 1,434 yards and earning a Pro Bowl nod. He also added 77 receptions for 567 yards and three touchdowns while leading the Cowboys to the NFC East title. In the postseason, he rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown in a Wild Card win over Seattle before the Cowboys fell to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round.
Cowboys Stint and Contract Extension (2019-2022)
Following a brief training-camp holdout, Elliott signed a six-year, $90 million extension in September 2019 with $50 million guaranteed. He responded with 1,357 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, earning his third Pro Bowl selection. After injuries limited his production in 2020 and 2021, he rebounded in 2022 with 12 rushing touchdowns despite playing through a partially torn PCL. The Cowboys released him on March 15, 2023.
New England Patriots (2023)
On August 16, 2023, Elliott signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the New England Patriots. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien planned to use him primarily in third-down and red-zone situations behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson. Elliott appeared in all 17 games, starting five, and recorded 184 carries for 642 yards and three rushing touchdowns to go along with 51 receptions for 313 yards and two receiving scores.
Return to Dallas and Move to Los Angeles (2024-Present)
Elliott signed a one-year, $2 million contract to return to the Cowboys on April 30, 2024. He opened the year with a rushing touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in the season opener. On December 31, 2024, the Cowboys and Elliott mutually agreed to part ways as the team had been eliminated from playoff contention. He finished the 2024 season with 74 carries for 226 yards and three touchdowns across 15 games.
On January 6, 2025, Elliott signed with the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad. He was not elevated for the Wild Card Round against the Houston Texans, and his practice squad contract officially expired on January 20, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Elliott combines rare size with three-down versatility, excelling as a runner between the tackles while also contributing as a reliable pass-catcher and blocker. His vision, balance, and contact balance allow him to break tackles and extend plays, and he has produced consistent production behind elite offensive lines. Teammates and analysts have frequently highlighted his football IQ and competitive toughness as defining traits.
Notable Events and Milestones
Elliott became the third-fastest player in NFL history to reach 1,000 rushing yards, joining Adrian Peterson and Eric Dickerson. His 2016 rushing total of 1,631 yards ranks among the top 50 seasons in league history, and he captured the NFL rushing title in both 2016 and 2018. He was the focal point of the 2014 College Football Playoff National Championship run, earning Offensive MVP honors in both the Sugar Bowl and the title game.
Ezekiel Elliott Career Wins
Ezekiel Elijah Elliott has compiled a decorated career at both the college and professional levels. At Ohio State, he was a College Football Playoff national champion, the 2014 James E. Sullivan Award winner, and a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection. In the NFL, he is a two-time NFL rushing yards leader, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, and a two-time All-Pro.
NFL Highlights
Elliott’s first NFL win came in Week 1 of 2016 against the New York Giants, where he also recorded his first NFL rushing touchdown. His rookie season finished with an NFL-best 1,631 rushing yards, and he added 125 rushing yards in his first playoff game against the Green Bay Packers. Most recently, he appeared in the 2024 regular-season finale with the Chargers’ practice squad.
College Highlights
At Ohio State, Elliott posted five 200-yard rushing games, tying Eddie George for the school record. He won the 2015 Big Ten Most Valuable Player award and was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, finishing eighth in voting.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFP National Championship | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Big Ten Championship | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Pro Bowl | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| First-team All-Pro | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Ezekiel Elliott Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Elliott comes from a deeply athletic family. His mother, Dawn Huff, was a three-sport state champion in high school and a sprinter at the University of Missouri, while his father, Stacy Elliott, played linebacker for the Missouri Tigers football team. His maternal grandfather played basketball at Drake University, and his maternal uncle, Shawn Huff, is a Finnish professional basketball player. The family has long emphasized both academics and athletics, and Elliott signed with Ohio State over his parents’ alma mater, Missouri.
Personal Life
Ezekiel Elijah Elliott bought his parents, Dawn and Stacy Elliott, a new house after signing his rookie contract with the Dallas Cowboys. He studied marketing at Ohio State University. In August 2020, he became a shareholder in OnCore Golf Technology, Inc., a Buffalo, New York-based golf ball manufacturer. He currently resides in the United States.
2025 Season Performance
Ezekiel Elijah Elliott entered 2025 as a free agent after his practice squad contract with the Los Angeles Chargers expired in January 2025. He appeared briefly with the Chargers during their playoff push, though he was not elevated to the active roster for the Wild Card Round. With the regular season complete, Elliott’s focus shifted toward securing a roster spot for the 2025 campaign, whether as a situational back, a third-down specialist, or a veteran presence in a backfield rotation.
Throughout his career, Elliott has demonstrated durability and consistency, with 9,130 career rushing yards and 74 rushing touchdowns across his professional tenure. His 368 receptions and 2,718 receiving yards also reflect a pass-catching skill set that remains valuable in modern offensive schemes.
Looking ahead, Elliott’s veteran experience, including two NFL rushing titles and a Super Bowl-contending track record, positions him as an attractive depth option for contenders seeking a power back. Whether he lands on a roster in free agency, returns to a familiar system, or transitions into a mentoring role, Elliott’s 2025 outlook will likely depend on opportunities to contribute on early downs, goal-line carries, and third-down situations.
