The Patriots’ linebacker room has been turned over enough this offseason that it’s fair to call it one of the thinner spots on the roster. Jack Gibbens, Jahlani Tavai and Marte Mapu are gone, and that leaves New England heading into 2026 with a lot to sort out in the middle of the defense.
One player who isn’t sorting through uncertainty, though, is Christian Elliss. He’s already carved out a real role, and he’s positioned to matter again this season. At No. 20 in the Patriots’ 2026 rankings, Elliss earns his spot as a defender whose game keeps trending up.
Elliss’ rise has been steady since New England claimed him off waivers in 2023. What started as a special teams role has grown into something much bigger, and last season he was right in the middle of the defense alongside Robert Spillane. The evidence is all over the stat sheet: over the last two seasons, Elliss leads the Patriots with 160 total tackles, 30 run stops and 29 quarterback pressures.
He also delivered the kind of hit that sticks in your head. The play that best captured his 2025 season came when he absolutely flattened New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart on Monday Night Football.
That kind of impact is exactly why Elliss has become such a useful piece for New England. The former Idaho UDFA has steadily molded his game to fit what the Patriots want to do, and his 6-foot-2, 231-pound frame has proven to be a strong match for Mike Vrabel’s defense. With assistant coach Terrell Williams also part of the mix, the Patriots are leaning into a more aggressive style that suits athletic linebackers like Elliss.
His 2025 season was the best of his NFL career. Elliss finished with 94 total tackles and 14 special teams tackles, both career highs. He also had three games in which he recorded three special teams tackles.
The versatility has mattered on both sides of the ball. Elliss went from being re-signed as a restricted free agent in March 2025 to becoming a top defensive contributor, and he also made his presence felt on special teams.
In September against Miami, he tied his career high with three special teams tackles. He added 39 solo tackles and one forced fumble in the regular season, and he supplied the pressure that led to Jarett Stidham’s fumble in the AFC title game in Denver.
Now the question is whether he can keep that momentum going in a contract year. Elliss is only 27, and a new extension could be in play if he keeps building on what he’s already shown.
There’s also a practical reason his role matters so much. If Spillane is unavailable at any point, Elliss has the ability to wear the green dot and handle the defensive play-calling duties.
He’ll still have to earn his spot in camp, though. Bradyn Swinson, Chad Muma, Jesse Luketa and free-agent addition K.J.
Britt are all in the mix, and Elliss will need to hold off that competition to stay locked in as a starter next to Spillane. His familiarity with the system gives him a real edge, and that could be enough to keep him right where New England needs him.
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