Christian Elliss, the 26-year-old linebacker, showcased his skills during the New England Patriots’ final spring practice, positioning himself as a contender for a starting role in the upcoming NFL season. The young athlete burst onto the scene upon joining the league as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Since then, he has been tested over and over in his long career. With his family’s rich football legacy and personal aspirations, Elliss is determined to make his mark on the team and in the league.
Elliss comes from a renowned football family. His father, Luther Elliss, played defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions and Denver Broncos, appearing in 134 games while accumulating 322 tackles and 29 sacks. The Elliss family’s NFL ties do not end there. Christian has two brothers who play professionally: Kaden Elliss for the Atlanta Falcons and Jonah Elliss for the Denver Broncos. As a pack, they make up one of just two families to have had three brothers on NFL rosters at the same time.
Even with such a strong bloodline, Christian Elliss’s NFL path has not come without challenges. In fact, he has beaten release six times during his first two years in the league. Most recently, he signed a new two-year, $13.5 million dollar offer sheet with the Las Vegas Raiders. Though, in the end, he decided to stick it out with the Patriots.
Throughout spring practice, Elliss proved a point, honing his skills and gaining All-American accolades and respect from coaches and teammates during the process. “He’s been great so far. He has improved each and every day,” said Zak Kuhr, a member of the coaching staff. Elliss expressed confidence in his development, stating, “I’m so happy with the progress I made. Our coaches are amazing. They’ve been helping us get everything detailed, lined up, and knowing exactly what you have to do.”
Elliss’s passion for his craft is reflected in his daily dedication to the work. “Every day has gotten better. That’s the same feedback I’ve gotten from the coaches,” he remarked. His dedication is most important as he prepares to enter into training camp. His goal is to prove his physicality and that he’s ready to compete on the interior.
Away from the game, Christian and Kaycie have also started their own journey toward parenthood. The couple plans to grow their family through adoption, beginning the process last summer in Utah. Despite the slow adoption process which they expect might take up to two years, they are encouraged by the long run.
“I feel faster now than I did in my whole career,” Elliss noted during practice, revealing his physical readiness as he trains intensively this season. He has a place lined up—Foxboro is not out of the question—for training camp. This year he’ll take a scheduled trip to Utah for his family reunion, where they’ve planned a huge celebration for Father’s Day. The celebratory hoedown will feature tossing around a brand-new power washer, as well as dinner on the farmé.
Elliss’s determination to succeed in football and life reflects his upbringing. He often credits his father for instilling valuable life lessons: “He taught me what it means to be a man. To take accountability. To lead courageously. To accept responsibility.” These lessons equally inform his private life. They continue to mentor him off the field as he faces the unique challenges of life in professional football.
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