Jonah Elliss comes from a footballing family. His father, Luther Elliss, was a defensive tackle who played in the NFL for a decade.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Jonah himself is an outside linebacker for the Denver Broncos.
He has three older brothers who all played football at the college level at the University of Idaho and have gone on to professional careers.
Kaden, the eldest Elliss brother, currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons.
Christian Elliss plays linebacker, and Noah Elliss is a defensive lineman, both on NFL teams.
With a father who excelled in the NFL and three brothers who have carved their own paths in professional football, it’s no wonder Jonah found success on the gridiron as well.
Who are Jonah Eliss’ parents?
Jonah comes from a family deeply rooted in football.
His father was a star athlete himself. Luther played defensive tackle for the University of Utah, earning accolades like first-team all-conference and All-American honors.
He then went on to a successful 10-year NFL career, primarily with the Detroit Lions.
Currently, Luther even coaches defensive tackles at the University of Idaho, passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of players.
Jonah’s mother, Rebecca Elliss, is another key part of the family.
While information about her specific background isn’t widely available, it’s clear she’s a strong support system for Jonah and his siblings.
Together, Luther and Rebecca have raised a large family, with Jonah being one of five biological children.
They’ve also opened their hearts and home through adoption, bringing the total number of children to twelve.
Interest in football
Jonah possesses a strong passion for football, fueled by a combination of personal ambition and family legacy.
His dream is to reach the pinnacle of professional football, the NFL, just like his father and brother before him.
This familial connection to the sport undoubtedly played a significant role in sparking his initial interest.
Witnessing his dad and sibling excel on the field likely instilled a love for the game in him at a young age.
Furthermore, reports suggest that Jonah wasn’t just going through the motions on the field, his impressive skills and project a promising future for him in the sport.
This indicates a genuine interest in mastering the game’s technical aspects and a drive to achieve success on his own merits.
His commitment to the University of Utah, a program familiar to his family, further emphasizes his dedication to pursuing a career in football.
College career
Jonah started his collegiate football career strong at the University of Utah, playing in all 14 games as a freshman, contributing 15 tackles.
By his sophomore year, he had earned a regular spot as a reserve linebacker and on special teams.
Jonah upped his tackle count to 26 that season, including impressive plays with six tackles for loss and three sacks.
This performance earned him an honorable mention All-Pac-12 Conference recognition.
Jonah’s junior year was one of steady improvement and then a showcase of his potential.
He saw action in all games again, this time collecting 15 tackles and recovering two fumbles.
One of those fumble recoveries came in a big win over the then #3 ranked Oregon Ducks. He also notched his first career sack in the Pac-12 Championship game.
Jonah capped off this season by being named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll.
He had a breakout performance against UCLA, recording a career-high 10 tackles with an incredible 5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
This dominant performance earned him the prestigious Walter Camp Defensive Player of the Week award, along with the Pac-12’s Defensive Line Player of the Week honor.
Those sacks tied him for eighth all-time at Utah and were the most in a Pac-12 conference game since 2017.
NFL draft
Jonah’s journey to the NFL was impressive, but it only just began in the 2024 draft.
Drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round, he became part of a unique family story.Â
His father was a two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman, and with Jonah’s selection, they became the first father-son duo drafted into the NFL from the University of Utah.
While his family pedigree is impressive, Jonah earned his own shot in the NFL.
In his final college season at Utah, he put up a dominant performance, leading the nation in sacks with 12 and racking up 16 tackles for loss.
This stellar season earned him First-Team All-America honors from multiple outlets.
However, a shoulder injury cut his season short and prevented him from participating in the NFL Scouting Combine.
Despite this setback, the Denver Broncos saw his potential and drafted him to bolster their pass rush.
Whether Jonah will find success in the NFL remains to be seen.
The transition from college to the professional level is challenging, and his injury history adds a layer of uncertainty.
However, his college achievements, combined with the knowledge and support of his football family, give him a strong foundation.
Broncos fans will be watching closely to see if Jonah can develop into a disruptive force on their defensive line.
