Luther Elliss

Elliss was born in Mancos, Colorado.[1] He attended Mancos High School,[2] and played for the Mancos Blue Jays high school football and basketball teams.

Elliss received an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Utah, and played for the Utah Utes football team as a defensive lineman from 1991 to 1994. He chose Utah since head football coach Ron McBride told him that he could also play on the basketball team under coach Rick Majerus. After one season he decided to play football full-time. He was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) selection in 1992, 1993 and 1994. As a senior in 1994, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All American, and was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Year.

The Detroit Lions selected Elliss in the first round (20th pick overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft,[3] and he played for the Lions from 1995 to 2003.[1] His nickname during his time in Detroit was "Pass Rushing Luther," and earned it with 324 tackles and 27.0 quarterback sacks with the Lions.[4] The Lions released him after appearing in only five games in 2003. He played his final season with the Denver Broncos in 2004, seeing action in eight games and registering two sacks.[4]

In his ten-season NFL career, he played in 134 regular season games, started 119 of them, and compiled 331 tackles, 29.0 sacks, seven fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, and four deflected passes.[4] He was a Pro Bowl selection in 1999 and 2000.[4]

Elliss and his wife, Rebecca, have 12 children – seven of whom are adopted.[8] Two of his sons, Christian and Kaden, play (or played) football for Idaho. In 2019, his son Kaden Elliss was drafted by the New Orleans Saints.[9]

Elliss is a former resident of Oakland Township, Michigan, in suburban Detroit.[10]