Christian Elliss ‘excited’ to play against little brother Jonah in AFC Championship; Their mother feels a little differently
It won’t be the first time Christian has faced one of his brothers in an NFL game, though it will be the first time he and Jonah share the field at any level of football.
His father, Luther Elliss, played defensive tackle in the NFL for 10 seasons for the Detroit Lions and Broncos and was a two-time Pro Bowler. Currently a defensive coach at the University of Utah, four of Luther’s sons – Kaden, Christian, Noah, and Jonah – followed his footsteps to the NFL.
Getting to play against his oldest brother Kaden a few seasons ago, now a linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons, was a highlight of Christians career. During his time with the Eagles, he was briefly teammates with his brother Noah. That just leaves Jonah.
“We’ve never played against each other,” Christian said about Jonah.
“We’ve never been on the field together at the same time so it’s special to me. I’m so excited to have his jersey and frame that after to have this moment last forever, because my favorite moment up to this point was playing against my older brother when he was on the Saints. I remember blocking him — he was on a punt and I was on punt return – and I came and tried to blow him up. We were laughing the entire way down and out of all of my moments – Super Bowl, big plays, all of that – that’s probably my favorite one so far. That’s one I’m going to hold on to forever.”
As their mother, Rebecca admits she is less enthusiastic about the matchup.
“I do not like it when they play against each other,” Rebecca said.
“As a mom, I just hate it. My heart hurts for them. I just feel so bad, but I think the boys are so close and so grounded and best friends, so they can be happy for each other even in disappointment. And no matter what, whoever wins, the other person will be at the Super Bowl supporting them. It’s a huge blessing so you just have to remember that perspective. I need to remember that, because I can get a little too nervous.”
Though Christian and Jonah never played against each other in sports growing up, Rebecca says their competitiveness came out in other ways against each other – in board games, cards, pickleball, and more.
“I always tease them,” Rebecca said. “They ruin decorating gingerbread houses because it turns out to be a competition. Everything we do – and every time they’re together.
Obviously, Rebecca will remain neutral at the AFC Championship, as will the rest of the Elliss fan club.
Since both the Patriots and Broncos have navy blue in their team colors, that’s what she’ll wear. The girls had sweatshirts made that say “Elliss” with both Christian’s and Jonah’s numbers on them. Luther and the men will be in custom sweatshirts that represent the NFL careers of all five Elliss men who played in the league.
And of course, with 10 other siblings (some biological, some adopted), Christian and Jonah will be represented well in Denver. Jonah was able to secure 23 tickets for everyone able to make it to their football family reunion of sorts.
