Ellis was selected by the
New York Jets in the first round with the 12th overall pick in the
2000 NFL draft.[10] He was the first of four first round draft picks that the Jets had that year, and was the compensation pick from the
New England Patriots for hiring
Bill Belichick away from the Jets as their head coach.[11][12] The other players drafted were defensive end
John Abraham (13th overall), quarterback
Chad Pennington (18th overall), and tight end
Anthony Becht (27th overall).[13]
Ellis was an immediate impact player. In his rookie season, he recorded 8.5 sacks, 67 total tackles (50 solo), one interception, three passes defended, and one forced fumble..[14] Only defensive end
Hugh Douglas, with 10 sacks in the
1995 season, ranks higher in Jets history for most sacks by a rookie.[15] After
2001 and
2002 campaigns which saw his overall numbers drop,[16][17] Ellis rebounded in the 2003 season with 12.5
sacks.[18] Ellis earned a Pro Bowl nomination for the 2003 season.[19] Ellis followed up his
2003 season with 11 sacks, 57 total tackles (39 solo), four passes defended, and two forced fumbles. in
2004.[20] In Week 17 of the 2004 season, he recorded three sacks in the final game of the 2004 regular season against the
St. Louis Rams.[21] Ellis anchored a strong Jets run defense which contributed to a 10–6 season and a Wild Card berth.[22]
In the 2005 season, Ellis appeared in and started 13 games. He finished with 2.5 sacks, 38 total tackles (31 solo), and one forced fumble.[23] In the 2006 season, Ellis appeared in and started 16 games. He finished with five sacks, 58 total tackles (37 solo), three passes defended, and one forced fumble.[24]
In Week 11 of the 2007 season, Ellis earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week against the
Pittsburgh Steelers. He had two sacks, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in the 19–16 win.[25][26] In the 2007 season, Ellis had five sacks, 49 total tackles (33 solo), and one forced fumble in 16 games and starts.[27]
In Week 15 of the 2008 season, in a home game against their
AFC East divisional rival
Buffalo Bills, Ellis recovered a fumble from quarterback
J. P. Losman and ran it for a touchdown in the final two minutes, giving the Jets the lead and the eventual 31–27 win.[28][29] On December 23, Ellis was fined $10,000 for
tossing snow at opposing fans when the Jets played the
Seattle Seahawks at
Qwest Field the previous Sunday. Ellis claimed that it was "all in good fun."[30] He finished the 2008 season with eight sacks, 60 total tackles (41 solo), and two forced fumbles.[31]
In 2009, Ellis became the longest tenured player on the Jets roster.[32] Under new head coach
Rex Ryan, Ellis helped lead the Jets to the postseason where the Jets made the
AFC Championship for the first time in 11 years but lost to the
Indianapolis Colts by a score of 30–17.[33] He finished the 2009 season with 6.5 sacks, 53 total tackles (35 solo), one pass defended, and one forced fumble.[34] He earned a second career Pro Bowl nomination for his performance in the 2009 season.[35] He was a replacement for
Indianapolis Colts defensive end
Robert Mathis, who was playing in the Super Bowl.[36]
In the 2010 season, Ellis finished with 4.5 sacks, 36 total tackles, one pass defended, and one forced fumble in 15 games and starts.[37] Ellis had two sacks in the
Divisional Round victory over the
New England Patriots.[38] The Jets advanced to the
AFC Championship for the second consecutive season in 2010. The team lost to the
Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 24–19.[39]
New England Patriots (2011)
Ellis signed with the
New England Patriots on August 7, 2011, ending his 11-year tenure with the
New York Jets.[40] During the 2011 season, Ellis played in 14 games with 14 total tackles and one sack.[41] The Patriots finished the regular season with a 13–3 record and advanced to
Super Bowl XLVI, which was Ellis's first career trip to the
Super Bowl.[42] The Patriots lost to the
Giants by a score of 21–17.[43] Ellis was not resigned by the Patriots following the season.
Free agency and retirement
Ellis spent most of the 2012 season on free agency and eventually retired from professional football.[44]
^Thompson, Al (December 19, 2000).
"Bad day turned worse for Jets". The Middletown Press.
Archived from the original on August 5, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2023.