Shaun Ellis facts for kids

MeShaunda Pizarrur Ellis, born on June 24, 1977, is a former American football player. He was known as "Big Katt" and played as a defensive end. Shaun Ellis spent most of his career with the New York Jets in the National Football League (NFL). He also played for the New England Patriots. Ellis was chosen by the Jets in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft. He was picked 12th overall. He was also selected for the Pro Bowl two times during his career.

Quick facts for kids
Shaun Ellis

Ellis with the New York Jets in 2009
No. 92
Position:	Defensive end
Personal information
Born:	(1977-06-24) June 24, 1977 (age 48) Anderson, South Carolina, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:	290 lb (132 kg)
Career information
High school:	Westside (Anderson, South Carolina)
College:	Tennessee
NFL Draft:	2000 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12
Career history
New York Jets (2000–2010) New England Patriots (2011)
Career highlights and awards
2× Pro Bowl (2003, 2009) BCS national champion (1998) First-team All-SEC (1999)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 566 Sacks: 73.5 Pass deflections: 16 Forced fumbles: 13 Interceptions: 1
Player stats at PFR

Shaun Ellis's College Football Journey

Shaun Ellis went to the University of Tennessee. There, he became a fantastic defensive end for the Tennessee Volunteers football team. His coach was Phillip Fulmer.

Winning a National Championship

In the 1998 season, Ellis was part of a special team. The Volunteers did not lose any games that year. They won the National Championship! They beat Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl. This big game happened in Tempe, Arizona.

College Stats

By the end of his college career, Shaun Ellis had made 105 tackles. He also had 12.5 sacks. He forced three fumbles and recovered one. He even caught one interception and ran it back 90 yards for a touchdown.

Shaun Ellis in the NFL

Shaun Ellis was picked by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2000 NFL draft. He was the 12th player chosen overall. He was one of four players the Jets picked in the first round that year.

Playing for the New York Jets (2000–2010)

Shaun Ellis made a big impact right away. In his first year, he had 8.5 sacks. He also made 67 tackles and forced one fumble. Only one other Jets rookie had more sacks than him.

Key Seasons with the Jets

After a couple of quieter years, Ellis played great in 2003. He had 12.5 sacks and was chosen for the Pro Bowl. In 2004, he continued to play well with 11 sacks. He helped the Jets have a strong defense against running plays. This helped the team win 10 games and make the playoffs.

In 2007, Ellis had a great game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had two sacks and forced a fumble. He even recovered a fumble, helping the Jets win 19–16. For this game, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Memorable Moments

In 2008, Ellis had an exciting play against the Buffalo Bills. He recovered a fumble from the Bills' quarterback and ran it for a touchdown. This gave the Jets the lead and the win. He finished that season with eight sacks.

In 2009, Shaun Ellis became the player who had been with the Jets the longest. He helped the team reach the AFC Championship game. They lost to the Indianapolis Colts. Ellis had 6.5 sacks that year and was chosen for his second Pro Bowl.

In 2010, Ellis helped the Jets reach the AFC Championship again. They beat the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round, with Ellis getting two sacks. However, they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Time with the New England Patriots (2011)

Shaun Ellis joined the New England Patriots on August 7, 2011. This ended his 11 years with the Jets. In 2011, he played in 14 games and had one sack. The Patriots had a great season, winning 13 games. They made it to Super Bowl XLVI. This was Ellis's first time playing in a Super Bowl. The Patriots lost to the New York Giants in a close game. After this season, Ellis did not sign with the Patriots again.

Retirement from Football

Shaun Ellis spent most of 2012 as a free agent, meaning he wasn't on a team. He then decided to retire from professional football.

NFL Career Statistics