Elandon Roberts Bio
Elandon Roberts is an American professional football linebacker for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Houston Cougars and was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Roberts has also spent time as a fullback when injuries left a team without one at the position.
Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing about 235 pounds, Roberts is known for his physical tackling and defensive leadership. Over the course of his NFL career, he has played for the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Las Vegas Raiders, winning two Super Bowl championships with New England.
Early Life and Background
Elandon Roberts was born on April 22, 1994, in Port Arthur, Texas. He grew up in the same southeast Texas city that produced other notable athletes, and he attended Memorial High School in Port Arthur. At Memorial, he was a member of both the football team and the track and field team, giving him an early foundation in both team competition and individual athletic discipline.
Roberts came from a tight-knit family that valued education and sports. He has three siblings, including an older brother, Eli Roberts, who graduated from Sam Houston State University with a major in Criminal Justice, and an older sister, Elexsia Roberts, who graduated from Wiley College in Education. His younger sister, Elondria Roberts, is a student at Lamar University in Beaumont. The family also has a strong football tradition, as Roberts’s cousins Jermire and Calvin both played college football at Iowa and Oklahoma State, respectively.
Path to Professional Football
Roberts began his college career at Morgan State University, where he played as a freshman linebacker in 2012. That season, he finished with 107 tackles, leading his team and placing second in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. His 107 tackles marked the second-best single-season effort in Morgan State program history, and he added nine tackles for a loss, 2.0 sacks, one interception, and two pass breakups. He was named to the All-MEAC second team and finished 11th for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the nation’s top freshman on the FCS level.
After his freshman year, Roberts transferred to the University of Houston, where he played from 2013 to 2015. As a sophomore, he appeared in eight games as a backup linebacker, and as a junior, he played in 12 games on defense and special teams. In his senior season, he served as a team captain and recorded 142 total tackles, leading the American Athletic Conference and finishing fourth in the nation. His 88 solo tackles led all of the FBS that year, earning him First-team All-AAC honors and an invitation to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, where he recorded one tackle for a four-yard loss as part of Mike Holmgren’s National team in a victory over the American team.
Elandon Roberts Career
Early Career (2016-2017)
The New England Patriots selected Roberts in the sixth round, 214th overall, of the 2016 NFL Draft, making him the 27th linebacker taken. He signed a four-year, $2.44 million contract that included a signing bonus of $100,356. Throughout training camp, he competed against Kamu Grugier-Hill, Rufus Johnson, Kevin Snyder, and C. J. Johnson for a backup linebacker role, and head coach Bill Belichick named him the backup middle linebacker behind Dont’a Hightower to open the regular season.
Roberts made his first NFL start on October 16, 2016, against the Cincinnati Bengals and tied for second-highest tackles on the team with seven in the win. Later that season, he led the Patriots with 11 tackles against the New York Jets, including a forced fumble recovered by Malcolm Butler. He was part of the Patriots team that won Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017, recording two tackles in the historic 34-28 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons. In 2017, he became a starting linebacker and recorded his first two career sacks in a Week 12 win over the Miami Dolphins, finishing the year with 67 total tackles, 2.0 sacks, one pass defended, and one fumble recovery.
New England Patriots Continuation (2018-2019)
In 2018, Roberts played in all 16 games with 11 starts as the Patriots finished 11-5. He recorded 65 tackles, 1.0 sack, and four passes defended on the season. After the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs, Roberts helped New England win Super Bowl LIII, recording one tackle in the 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. The win gave him his second Super Bowl championship in three seasons.
The 2019 season brought a new role for Roberts, as he was voted a team defensive captain for the first time, replacing safety Patrick Chung. He was part of a linebacker group nicknamed “The Boogeymen” by teammate Dont’a Hightower. Beginning in Week 7, he also played on offense as a fullback after injuries to James Develin and Jakob Johnson. He finished the season with 29 tackles, 1.0 sack, a pass defense, and a tackle for loss. On December 29, 2019, he scored his first career touchdown on a 38-yard pass from Tom Brady in a loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Miami Dolphins Era (2020-2022)
On March 24, 2020, the Miami Dolphins signed Roberts to a one-year, $2 million contract that included a $1 million signing bonus. The signing reunited him with Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, who had previously been the Patriots’ linebackers coach, as well as former Patriots linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Kamu Grugier-Hill. He was named a starting inside linebacker alongside Jerome Baker and played in 13 games with 11 starts, recording 61 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery before being placed on injured reserve on December 31.
Roberts re-signed with the Dolphins on March 24, 2021, and was again named a starting linebacker. He played in all 17 games with 15 starts, setting a career high with 83 tackles, while also recording 1.0 sack, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and an interception. On March 18, 2022, Roberts re-signed for a third season with Miami. He started all 17 games that year, finishing with 4.5 sacks and 107 total tackles, giving him three consecutive 100-tackle seasons in a Dolphins uniform.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2023-2024)
On March 16, 2023, Roberts signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He continued his role as a starting inside linebacker, providing physical run support and veteran leadership in the middle of the Pittsburgh defense. His two seasons with the Steelers added to his reputation as a reliable tackler on early downs.
Roberts remained a core special teams contributor and a steady presence at inside linebacker for Pittsburgh through the 2024 season, helping bridge the defensive transition during a period of roster turnover. His time in Pittsburgh reinforced his standing as a dependable veteran presence in the linebacker room.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2025-Present)
On March 13, 2025, Roberts signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on a one-year, $3 million contract. The move brought a Super Bowl-winning veteran into a Raiders linebacker group that was looking for additional experience and physicality on defense. His signing was viewed as a low-risk addition with a clear leadership upside in the locker room.
Roberts joined a Las Vegas defense in transition, bringing nine seasons of starting experience and two championship rings. His ability to play both linebacker and fullback gives the Raiders flexibility in personnel groupings and on special teams. Early indications suggested he would factor into the Raiders’ inside linebacker rotation and contribute on core special teams units.
Driving Style and Strengths
Roberts is widely recognized as a downhill, physical linebacker who excels at stopping the run and finishing tackles in confined spaces. His college tackle totals, including 142 stops in his senior season, highlighted a player who diagnoses plays quickly and attacks the line of scrimmage with leverage and power. He has also shown positional versatility, transitioning from inside linebacker to fullback during the 2019 season and contributing as a reliable short-yardage and goal-line blocker when called upon.
Notable Events and Milestones
Roberts is a two-time Super Bowl champion, having been part of the Patriots’ victories in Super Bowl LI and Super Bowl LIII. He scored his first career touchdown on a 38-yard reception from Tom Brady in December 2019 and was voted a defensive team captain in 2019. His 142-tackle senior season at the University of Houston led the American Athletic Conference and ranked fourth nationally, establishing him as one of the most productive linebackers in college football that year.
Elandon Roberts Career Wins
Elandon Roberts has compiled a steady career highlighted by two Super Bowl championships, a College Football national team all-star win at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, and consistent individual production across multiple NFL stops. While he has not been the primary pass rusher or coverage linebacker on his defenses, his résumé is built on durable tackle totals, two Super Bowl rings, and All-Conference recognition in college.
Postseason and Championship Highlights
Roberts was part of the Patriots’ Super Bowl LI roster that staged the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, erasing a 28-3 deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime. He started at linebacker the following year in Super Bowl LII, a 41-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and recorded one tackle in New England’s 13-3 Super Bowl LIII victory over the Los Angeles Rams. Those two championship rings stand as the defining postseason results of his career to date.
Other Wins and Performances
Roberts earned First-team All-AAC honors in 2015 after leading the conference with 142 tackles, and he was named to the All-MEAC second team in 2012 after posting 107 tackles as a freshman at Morgan State. In the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, he was part of Mike Holmgren’s National team that won 18-17 over the American team. Across his NFL career, he has produced three 100-tackle seasons, including a career-high 83 stops in 2021 with Miami.
Elandon Roberts Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Roberts was raised in Port Arthur, Texas, in a family with deep roots in football. His cousins Jermire and Calvin both played college football at Iowa and Oklahoma State, respectively, giving him an early model for combining academics and athletics. His siblings pursued higher education at Sam Houston State University, Wiley College, and Lamar University, reflecting a family that emphasized both sports and academic achievement.
Personal Life
Roberts maintains close ties to his family and is active on social media, where fans can follow him on X at roberts_52 and on Instagram at the_erob52. His siblings, Eli, Elexsia, and Elondria, have all pursued college degrees, a path that mirrors the academic side of Roberts’s own journey from Morgan State to the University of Houston. He continues to reside in the United States while playing in the NFL.
2025 Season Performance
Roberts entered the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders after signing a one-year, $3 million contract in March 2025. He was expected to serve as a veteran presence in the Raiders’ inside linebacker rotation, providing run-stopping ability and special teams value. The Raiders’ defensive staff indicated he would be deployed in early-down situations and on core special teams units.
Coming off three consecutive 100-tackle seasons split between Miami and Pittsburgh, Roberts brought a track record of durability that few linebackers in the league can match. His familiarity with multiple defensive schemes, having played in New England’s, Miami’s, and Pittsburgh’s systems, allowed the Raiders to use him in a variety of alignments. The veteran leadership of a two-time Super Bowl champion was also seen as an asset for a young Raiders linebacker room.
Looking ahead, Roberts’s role with the Raiders will likely center on physical run defense, short-yardage tackling, and providing a steady hand on special teams. With his contract running through the 2025 season, his future in Las Vegas will hinge on his production and the team’s direction. Regardless of the outcome, the 2025 campaign adds another chapter to one of the more under-the-radar durable careers among NFL linebackers of his draft class.