​Since the departure of long-time head coach Bill Belichick in January 2024, the New England Patriots have undergone substantial roster turnover. In fact, only 12 players from that season remain with the team today. Among them is Christian Elliss, who joined as a waiver claim during Belichick’s final year and has carved out an increasingly valuable role since then.
Name: Christian Elliss
Position: Off-ball linebacker
Jersey number: 53
Opening day age: 27 (born January 2, 1999)
Measurements:
– Height: 6’1 3/4”
– Weight: 231 pounds
– Hand size: 9 1/2”
– Arm length: 31 3/4”
– Wingspan: 75 1/2”
– 40-yard dash: 4.58 seconds
– 3-cone drill: 6.94 seconds
– Short shuttle: 4.29 seconds
– Vertical jump: 35 1/2”
– Broad jump: 10 feet
– Bench press: 22 reps
– Relative Athletic Score: 8.91
NFL experience:
– Minnesota Vikings (2021)
– Philadelphia Eagles (2021; 2021-23)
– San Francisco 49ers (2021)
– New England Patriots (2023–present)
College: Idaho (2017-2020)
Elliss is the third-oldest son of former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Luther Elliss, and he came out of Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado as a two-star outside linebacker recruit. With limited college interest, he earned a Division I opportunity on a scholarship to Idaho. Over four seasons with the Vandals, Elliss played in 38 games and started 28, earning first-team All-Big Sky honors twice. His strong college performance did not lead to a draft selection in 2021, but it paved the way for him to sign with the Vikings as a rookie free agent.
His NFL journey began in Minnesota but lasted less than four months, as he was released prior to the final 53-man roster deadline. He then found his way to Philadelphia and San Francisco, joining both teams’ practice squads before returning to the Eagles late in the 2021 season. Over the next couple of years, Elliss remained on the fringes of rosters but began to distinguish himself as a valuable special-teams player. That trajectory continued, though not without setbacks: he was cut in December 2023. After appearing in 22 combined regular-season and playoff games for Philadelphia, his talents were claimed by the Patriots off waivers, benefiting from New England’s advantageous position in the waiver order at that time.
In Foxborough, Elliss spent his initial four games purely as a special-teams contributor but soon earned opportunities as a starter-level off-ball linebacker while continuing to contribute on special teams. Since then, he has grown into a more complete role, balancing coverage responsibilities with run support and sustaining an active presence on kicking plays. Heading into 2026, Elliss has appeared in 39 total games for the Patriots.
Strengths:
– At under 6’2” and 231 pounds, Elliss may be somewhat undersized for a traditional linebacker, but he compensates with solid movement skills and athleticism that help him adapt to multiple roles.
– His versatility allows him to contribute in the kicking game while developing as a rotational defender on defense, which has increased his value to the Patriots as a flexible, coverage-minded linebacker.
Overall, Elliss has evolved from a fringe roster candidate into a serviceable contributor for New England, leveraging his special-teams prowess and growing linebacker versatility to carve out a meaningful two-way role.