'It's a Pretty Good Feeling': Jonah Elliss Proud to Be Lions Fan
INDIANAPOLIS — Edge defender Jonah Elliss was among those NFL draft prospects who thoroughly enjoyed the Detroit Lions’ memorable 2023 season, though he had better reason than most.
If the last name looks familiar to Lions fans, that’s because he’s indeed the son of Luther Elliss, Detroit’s first-round pick in the 1995 NFL draft.
And being his son, Jonah naturally grew up a Lions fan, even though he was less than a year old when his father played his last game for Detroit in 2003.
"Yeah, I mean, it's awesome to finally be able to say I'm a Lions fan and not have people laughing at me,” Elliss said at the Combine Wednesday. “It's a pretty good feeling. So I love it. I love what they're doing out there.”
And, yes, Elliss would love to be a part of what’s going on with the Lions, though he’s quick to add he would love to get drafted by any team, really.
Barring an unforeseen development, Jonah Elliss absolutely will get drafted and he could get drafted sometime during the second day (Rounds 2-3) because of his pass-rushing prowess.
Given his style and physical dimensions, he compares his game to Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Haason Reddick.
"Just because we're both like lighter, quicker guys and we like that speed to bull, speed to push-pull, speed off the edge, inside moves,” Elliss said. “Like, I feel like we're both kind of similar in that regard. I'm trying to be like him. I'm definitely not there yet. But he's someone that I definitely watched film on and looked up to."
Elliss certainly is different than his father, who was a powerful defensive lineman who started for the Lions eight seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl twice.
A football family
Jonah Elliss won’t be following only his father into the NFL, he’ll be doing the same with his three brothers — Christian, Kaden and Noah.
Christian and Noah currently are members of the Eagles, while Kaden is headed into his second season with the Atlanta Falcons.
Christian and Kaden were seventh-round NFL picks, while Noah went undrafted.
"Yeah, I mean, they teach me a lot,” Jonah said. “Actually after games, a lot of the time they would call me and like, try and help me on things that they noticed. And especially like Kaden, Christian and Noah, they're all like always trying to like help me. ‘Hey, Jonah, your get-off isn't good enough.’ Christian was on it. ‘Hey, your hands are slow.’ Always like hey, like, it looks like you're blocking yourself.
“There's always stuff that they see and they help me with, so to be able to have like that fine family environment that all know football and all are professionals is really helpful and a huge blessing.”
Jonah is different from his brothers in that he followed his father at Utah, while the other three played at Idaho.
Jonah even got to wear his father’s jersey number, 83. He called it a “cool feeling.”
It would be more than cool for him to end up playing for the Lions, though he does say he “loves” everybody.
"Lions just because my dad played for them,” he said. “It was always kind of like my dream team. But, I mean, now since all my brothers are playing everywhere, it's kind of hard.”
