Ezekiel Elliott facts for kids
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Elliott with the Dallas Cowboys in 2021
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | July 22, 1995 Alton, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 225 lb (102 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | John Burroughs (Ladue, Missouri) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Ohio State (2013–2015) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2024 | |||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
Ezekiel Elijah Elliott (born July 22, 1995), often called "Zeke", is a professional football running back. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. In 2015, he was recognized as a second-team All-American.
The Dallas Cowboys picked Elliott fourth overall in the 2016 NFL draft. During his first seven seasons with the Cowboys, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times. He was also a two-time All-Pro player. Elliott led the league in rushing yards in both the 2016 and 2018 seasons. After leaving the Cowboys in 2023, he played for the New England Patriots. He then returned to the Cowboys in 2024 before joining the Los Angeles Chargers.
Contents
Growing Up and High School Sports
Ezekiel Elliott was born in Alton, Illinois. Both his parents were college athletes. His mother, Dawn Huff, was a state champion in three high school sports. She later ran track at the University of Missouri. His father, Stacy, played linebacker for the Missouri football team.
Elliott went to John Burroughs School in Ladue, Missouri. He was a star in three sports: football, basketball, and track and field. He also played baseball. He was a running back for the John Burroughs Bombers football team.
High School Football Achievements
In 2012, as a junior, Elliott was named the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offensive player of the year. He ran for 1,802 yards and scored 34 touchdowns. He also caught 23 passes for 401 yards and six touchdowns.
In his senior year, Elliott gained 3,061 total yards and scored 50 touchdowns. This included 2,155 rushing yards and 40 rushing touchdowns. He led his football team to three championship games, but they lost all of them.
Track and Field Success
Elliott was also a great track and field athlete. He competed in sprinting and hurdling events at the state level. He won four state championships in just two and a half hours. These included the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 110-meter high hurdles, and 300-meter hurdles.
He ran his fastest times of 10.95 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 22.05 seconds in the 200-meter dash. He also had best times of 13.77 seconds in the 110m hurdles and 37.52 seconds in the 300m hurdles. He was named the Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year in Missouri.
Choosing a College Team
Experts like Scout.com considered Elliott a top recruit. He was ranked as the No. 9 running back in the nation in 2013. He played in the 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Many people wanted him to join the University of Missouri, where his parents went. However, he chose to sign with Ohio State University.
College Football Career
Elliott started playing for Ohio State University in 2013 as a true freshman. He rushed for 262 yards and two touchdowns. He mostly played on special teams.
In 2014, Elliott became the main running back for the Buckeyes. He rushed for over 100 yards six times that season. He was also named to the Academic All-Big Ten Conference team.
Big Games and Championships
In the 2014 Big Ten Football Championship Game, Elliott rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns. This win helped Ohio State qualify for the first-ever College Football Playoff.
In the 2015 Sugar Bowl against #1 Alabama, Elliott ran for 230 yards. Ohio State won 42–35, and he was named the Offensive Player of the Game. He had an 85-yard touchdown run that helped seal the victory.
Elliott then helped the Buckeyes win the championship season. He rushed for 246 yards and four touchdowns against the Oregon Ducks. He was named the Offensive MVP of that game too. This was the third-most rushing yards ever by an Ohio State player.
Final College Season and Records
In 2015, Elliott started the season with 10 straight games of over 100 rushing yards. He gained 274 yards against Indiana, which was the second-most all-time for an Ohio State player.
After a loss to Michigan State, Elliott announced he would enter the 2016 NFL draft. The next week, he ran for 214 yards against rival Michigan. He finished his college career with 149 yards and four touchdowns in a Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame.
Elliott ended his Ohio State career with many records. He was second in career rushing yards with 3,961. His 43 rushing touchdowns were the fourth most all time. He also tied a school record with 12 games of 100+ rushing yards in 2015.
College Awards and Recognition
Elliott received many awards at Ohio State. In 2014, he was the Offensive MVP of both the 2015 Sugar Bowl and the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
His success in 2014 made him a top candidate for the 2015 Heisman Trophy. He finished eighth in the voting. After a great 2015 season, he was named the 2015 Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year. He also won the 2015 Ameche-Dayne Running Back of the Year award. He was selected for the Unanimous First Team All-Big Ten.
College Statistics
| Ohio State Buckeyes | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||||
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | |||||
| 2013 | 7 | 0 | 30 | 262 | 8.7 | 2 | 3 | 23 | 7.7 | 1 | ||||
| 2014 | 15 | 15 | 273 | 1,878 | 6.9 | 18 | 28 | 220 | 7.9 | 0 | ||||
| 2015 | 13 | 13 | 289 | 1,821 | 6.3 | 23 | 27 | 206 | 7.6 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 35 | 28 | 595 | 3,961 | 6.7 | 43 | 58 | 449 | 7.7 | 1 | ||||
Professional Football Career
Before the NFL draft, experts thought Elliott was one of the best running backs to come into the league in years. They predicted he would be picked in the top 10. NFL.com compared him to Edgerrin James. They said he had a "rare combination of size, athleticism, pass-catching and blocking skills."
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand size | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Wonderlic | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11+3⁄4 in (1.82 m) |
225 lb (102 kg) |
31+1⁄4 in (0.79 m) |
10+1⁄4 in (0.26 m) |
4.47 s | 1.50 s | 2.62 s | 32.5 in (0.83 m) |
9 ft 10 in (3.00 m) |
32 | |||
| All values from NFL Combine | ||||||||||||
First Time with the Dallas Cowboys (2016–2022)
2016 Rookie Season
The Dallas Cowboys chose Elliott as the fourth overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. He was the first running back picked that year. Many thought he would be the 2016 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
On May 18, 2016, Elliott signed his first four-year contract. It was worth $24.9 million. Elliott became the Cowboys' starting running back.
In his first NFL game, he scored his first touchdown. The next week, he had 83 yards and a touchdown. In Week 3, he rushed for 140 yards, his first 100-yard game. He continued to play well, rushing for over 100 yards in several games.
After nine games, he became the second Cowboys rookie to rush for over 1,000 yards. He joined Tony Dorsett, who did it in 1977. Elliott also became only the third running back to reach 1,000 yards in just nine career games.
In Week 10, he gained 209 total yards and scored three touchdowns. This included his first NFL receiving touchdown. He also had a 32-yard run for the game-winning touchdown. In Week 11, he broke Tony Dorsett's Cowboys rookie rushing record.
In Week 15, Elliott rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown. After scoring, he famously jumped into a large Salvation Army Red Kettle. This was a unique touchdown celebration. The Cowboys secured the top spot in their conference, so Elliott rested for the final regular-season game.
Elliott finished his rookie year as the NFL's top rusher with 1,631 yards. This was the third-most by a rookie in NFL history. He also scored 15 touchdowns, ranking third in the league. He was named a First-team All-Pro and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. He was also named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
In his first NFL playoff game, Elliott rushed for 125 yards. The Cowboys lost to the Green Bay Packers.
2017 Season
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In 2017, the NFL suspended Elliott for six games. This was due to a violation of the personal conduct policy. Elliott appealed the decision several times. This led to a back-and-forth legal process. He was able to play some games while the appeals were ongoing.
In Week 7, he rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 72-yard touchdown catch. Eventually, Elliott accepted the suspension and trained in Mexico. He returned in Week 16, rushing for 97 yards.
Elliott finished his second season with 983 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 10 games.
2018 Season
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In 2018, Elliott scored a rushing touchdown in his first two games. In Week 4, he rushed for 152 yards and caught passes for 88 yards and a touchdown. In Week 6, he ran for 106 yards and a touchdown. He became the fastest Cowboy to reach 25 rushing touchdowns.
In Week 10, Elliott had 187 total yards and two touchdowns. In Week 11, he gained 201 total yards. This was his fourth game with over 200 yards, tying a Cowboys record. The next week, he rushed for 121 yards, reaching 1,000 yards for the season.
Elliott finished the 2018 season with 1,434 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He also had 77 catches for 567 yards and three touchdowns. He won the rushing title for the second time. He earned his second Pro Bowl nomination.
The Cowboys won their division and made the playoffs. In the Wild Card Round, Elliott rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys won that game. They later lost in the Divisional Round.
2019 Season
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In April 2019, the Cowboys extended Elliott's contract. He signed a six-year deal worth $90 million.
In his first game back, he rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown. He continued to have strong performances. In Week 2, he rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown. In Week 3, he gained 125 rushing yards.
In Week 6, he rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown. In Week 7, he had 111 rushing yards and a touchdown. In Week 9, he rushed for 139 yards. In Week 14, he reached 1,000 rushing yards for the season. He also scored two touchdowns. In Week 15, he rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
Elliott finished the 2019 season with 1,357 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He also had 54 catches for 420 yards and two touchdowns. He earned his third Pro Bowl nomination.
2020 Season
In the first game of the 2020 season, Elliott rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown. He also caught a touchdown pass. In Week 2, he had 89 rushing yards and a touchdown. In Week 5, he gained 105 total yards and two rushing touchdowns.
In Week 11, Elliott had his first 100-yard rushing game of the season. He missed his first career game due to injury in Week 15. In Week 16, he rushed for 105 yards.
Elliott finished the 2020 season with 979 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He also had 52 catches for 338 yards and two touchdowns.
2021 Season
In August 2021, the Cowboys changed Elliott's contract to save money. Despite dealing with knee and ankle injuries, Elliott started all 17 games. He rushed for 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also caught 47 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns. He had two games with over 100 rushing yards.
In the playoffs, Elliott rushed for 31 yards. It was later revealed he was playing with a partially torn knee ligament.
2022 Season
Elliott finished the 2022 season with 876 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. Most of his touchdowns were scored from close to the goal line. He also had 17 catches for 92 yards.
In the playoffs, Elliott rushed for 26 yards. He even played center for one play. The Cowboys released Elliott on March 15, 2023.
New England Patriots (2023)
On August 16, 2023, Elliott signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots. He was mainly used in third-down and goal-line situations. In Week 14, he had 140 total yards and a receiving touchdown.
Elliott finished the 2023 season with 642 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He also had 51 catches for 313 yards and two touchdowns. He played in all 17 games.
Return to the Dallas Cowboys (2024)
On April 30, 2024, Elliott signed a one-year contract to return to the Dallas Cowboys. In the first game of the 2024 season, he ran for 40 yards and a touchdown. In December 2024, the Cowboys and Elliott decided to part ways. He finished the 2024 season with 226 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Los Angeles Chargers (2025)
On January 6, 2025, Elliott signed with the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad.
NFL Career Statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2016 | DAL | 15 | 15 | 322 | 1,631 | 5.1 | 60T | 15 | 32 | 363 | 11.3 | 83T | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| 2017 | DAL | 10 | 10 | 242 | 983 | 4.1 | 30 | 7 | 26 | 269 | 10.3 | 72T | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | DAL | 15 | 15 | 304 | 1,434 | 4.7 | 41 | 6 | 77 | 567 | 7.4 | 38T | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| 2019 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 301 | 1,357 | 4.5 | 33T | 12 | 54 | 420 | 7.8 | 27 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 2020 | DAL | 15 | 15 | 244 | 979 | 4.0 | 31 | 6 | 52 | 338 | 6.5 | 19 | 2 | 6 | 5 |
| 2021 | DAL | 17 | 17 | 237 | 1,002 | 4.2 | 47 | 10 | 47 | 287 | 6.1 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | DAL | 15 | 14 | 231 | 876 | 3.8 | 27 | 12 | 17 | 92 | 5.4 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | NE | 17 | 5 | 184 | 642 | 3.5 | 17 | 3 | 51 | 313 | 6.1 | 23 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2024 | DAL | 15 | 2 | 74 | 226 | 3.1 | 11 | 3 | 12 | 69 | 5.8 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Career | 135 | 109 | 2,139 | 9,130 | 4.3 | 60 | 74 | 368 | 2,718 | 7.4 | 83 | 14 | 25 | 13 | |
Postseason
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | Fumbles | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Fum | Lost | ||
| 2016 | DAL | 1 | 1 | 22 | 125 | 5.7 | 22 | 0 | 1 | −2 | −2.0 | −2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | DAL | 2 | 2 | 46 | 184 | 4.0 | 44 | 2 | 6 | 51 | 8.5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | DAL | 1 | 1 | 12 | 31 | 2.6 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | DAL | 2 | 2 | 23 | 53 | 2.3 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 5.3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 6 | 6 | 103 | 393 | 3.8 | 44 | 2 | 11 | 65 | 5.9 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Personal Life
After signing his first NFL contract, Elliott bought his parents a new house. He studied marketing at Ohio State University.
In August 2020, Elliott became a part-owner of OnCore Golf Technology, Inc. This company makes golf balls.
See also
In Spanish: Ezekiel Elliott para niños
