Jonah Elliss Bio
Jonah Elliss (born April 3, 2003) is an American professional football linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, he has quickly established himself as a promising young defender, earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team in his first season. A former standout for the Utah Utes, Elliss carries on a strong family football tradition as the son of longtime NFL defensive tackle Luther Elliss.
Early Life and Background
Jonah Elliss was born in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and grew up in a household steeped in professional football. His father, Luther Elliss, played defensive tackle in the NFL for ten seasons, giving Jonah direct exposure to the demands of a football career from a young age. The family later moved, and Elliss spent his formative years in Utah, Colorado, and Idaho.
Elliss attended Moscow High School in Idaho, where he developed into one of the most disruptive defensive players in the area. As a senior, his production earned him the Inland Empire League Player of the Year award. He was rated a three-star recruit by major scouting services and chose to continue his football career at the University of Utah, joining the Utah Utes program.
Path to American Football
Elliss followed a steady development path shaped by his family’s deep football roots. Watching his father and three older brothers play the sport provided daily insight into technique, conditioning, and the mindset required to compete at the highest levels. That environment helped him transition smoothly from a productive high school career to a role in a Power Five college program.
His commitment to Utah marked the start of his climb through competitive college football. With a clear path ahead, Elliss focused on building the strength, pass-rushing skills, and football intelligence that would eventually catch the attention of NFL scouts.
Jonah Elliss Career
Early Career at Utah (2021–2022)
Elliss enrolled at Utah and made an immediate contribution as a freshman, playing in all 14 of the Utes’ games and recording 15 tackles. His willingness to learn and his physical tools allowed him to earn meaningful snaps on a competitive defense, and he showed steady improvement throughout the season.
As a sophomore, Elliss took a significant step forward, finishing the year with 26 tackles, six tackles for loss, and three sacks. His performance earned him honorable mention All-Pac-12 Conference recognition, confirming his status as one of the rising edge rushers in the conference and setting the stage for a breakout junior year.
Breakout at Utah (2023)
In his junior season, Elliss emerged as one of the most productive defensive players in the Pac-12. His disruptive play against both the run and the pass helped anchor the Utah defense and drew national attention. By the end of the year, his performance was strong enough to earn him Consensus All-American honors, a rare distinction for a junior edge rusher.
That recognition, combined with his production, positioned Elliss as one of the top defensive prospects heading into the 2024 NFL Draft. His combination of size, quickness, and football pedigree made him an attractive target for teams looking to add pass-rushing help.
Denver Broncos Era (2024–Present)
Elliss was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round, 76th overall, in the 2024 NFL Draft. Joining a defense looking to add youth and energy to its pass rush, he was given an early opportunity to contribute, and he made the most of it. During his rookie season, Elliss recorded five sacks, the third most among all rookies in the league that year.
His production was rewarded with a selection to the 2024 PFWA All-Rookie Team, an honor reserved for the most impactful first-year players in the NFL. However, Elliss’s rookie year also included a setback, as he suffered a fractured scapula during Denver’s Wild Card playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills, an injury that cut short his postseason.
Driving Style and Strengths
Elliss plays with a relentless motor and a polished array of pass-rushing moves for a young edge defender. He is at his most effective when he can attack upfield, use his length to disrupt throwing lanes, and set a firm edge against the run. His football IQ, sharpened by years of growing up around professional players, allows him to diagnose plays quickly and align with confidence against both pass and run schemes.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the early highlights of Elliss’s career are his third-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, his five-sack rookie campaign that ranked third among all first-year players, and his inclusion on the 2024 PFWA All-Rookie Team. The fractured scapula suffered in the Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills also stands as a defining, if unfortunate, moment of his first professional season.
Jonah Elliss Career Wins
While individual game awards and statistical totals tell part of the story, Elliss’s early career has been defined more by consistent production and team impact than by formal victory tallies. In the NFL, his rookie-season sack total and All-Rookie recognition stand as his most prominent on-field achievements so far.
Utah Utes Highlights
Elliss’s college résumé includes honorable mention All-Pac-12 Conference honors as a sophomore and Consensus All-American recognition as a junior. Over his time at Utah, he recorded impactful tackle, tackle-for-loss, and sack numbers that helped anchor one of the Pac-12’s top defenses. These performances played a central role in his decision to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Other Performances
At the high school level, Elliss was named the Inland Empire League Player of the Year as a senior at Moscow High School, an early signal of the production that would follow at the college and professional levels.
Jonah Elliss Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Football runs deep in the Elliss family. Jonah’s father, Luther Elliss, played defensive tackle in the NFL for ten seasons, providing a strong professional example for his son. Three of Jonah’s older brothers, Kaden, Christian, and Noah, played football at the University of Idaho and have been involved in the NFL, creating a household where competition and football knowledge were constant companions.
Personal Life
Elliss has been in a relationship with Kasey Wardle since 2021. The couple has been a steady presence throughout his college career and his transition into the NFL, and they continue to be a key part of his support system as he builds his professional career in Denver.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, the Denver Broncos are expected to lean on Elliss as a key piece of a young and developing defensive front. After a strong rookie year in which he recorded five sacks, the focus will be on continued growth, expanded responsibilities, and finishing the season healthy after the fractured scapula that cut short his first postseason appearance.
With a full offseason to recover and refine his craft, Elliss is positioned to take on a larger role in Denver’s pass-rushing rotation. The Broncos’ defensive staff will look for him to build on his rookie production, increase his impact on third downs, and become a more consistent force against the run. His All-Rookie recognition provides a strong foundation, but the next step is establishing himself as a long-term starter.
The outlook for Elliss in 2025 is encouraging, as he combines physical tools, professional pedigree, and early production. If he can stay healthy and continue his upward trajectory, he has the potential to develop into one of the cornerstone defenders of the Broncos’ defense for years to come.