| No. 52 | |||||||||
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| Positions | Guard Center | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1968-10-01)October 1, 1968 (age 57) Carmel, Indiana, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight | 288 lb (131 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Carmel | ||||||||
| College | Michigan | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1992: 12th round, 336th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Eric Matthew Elliott (born October 1, 1968) is an American former professionalfootball player. He playedcollege football as acenter andguard for theUniversity of Michigan from 1988 to 1991. He started 35 games at Michigan and was selected as an All-American in 1991. He played professional football as a center and guard in theNational Football League (NFL) for theWashington Redskins in 1992 and for theCarolina Panthers from 1995 to 1997.
Elliott was born inCarmel, Indiana, in 1968. He attendedCarmel High School.[1]
Elliott enrolled at theUniversity of Michigan in 1987 and playedcollege football for theMichigan Wolverines football teams from 1988 to 1991.[2]
As a sophomore, Elliott started all 11 games, nine at right guard and two at left guard, for the1989 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled a 10–2 record and was ranked #7 in the finalAP Poll inBo Schembechler's last season as head coach at Michigan.[3]
As a junior, Elliott started all 12 games, four at left guard and eight at center, for the1990 Michigan team that compiled a 9–3 record and was ranked #7 in the finalAP Poll.[4] Elliott started the season at left guard, but was moved to center afterSteve Everitt broke his foot in Michigan's 45–17 victory over Maryland.[5] Elliott was named the co-MVP of the1991 Gator Bowl at the conclusion of his junior season.[6]
As a senior, Elliott started all 12 games, eight at left guard and four at center, for the1991 Michigan team that compiled a 10–2 record, won theBig Ten championship, and was ranked #6 in the finalAP Poll.[7] Elliott again started the season at left guard, but moved to center for four games after Steve Everitt suffered a broken jaw in theNotre Dame game on September 14, 1991.[8] At the end of the season, he was selected as a first-team All-American and a first-team All-Big Ten player.[7][9]
Elliott was selected by theWashington Redskins in the 12th round (336th overall pick) of the1992 NFL draft.[10] He was the final selection in the final round of the draft, giving him the designation ofMr. Irrelevant.[11] Despite the moniker, Elliott appeared in 16 games, two as a starter, for the Redskins during the1992 season.[1] He spent the 1993 season on injured reserve, and he was cut during training camp in 1994.[12]
During the1994 NFL season, Elliott was unable to sign with another NFL team. Instead, he worked as a sideline reporter coveringWashington Redskins games and as a color commentator for high school football games inLoudoun County, Virginia.[12]
In 1995, Elliott attempted a comeback and signed with theCarolina Panthers. When he was announced as a starter for the Panthers during the 1995 preseason, Elliott described it as being "a little like a fairy tale" and "a dream come true."[12] He was the Panthers' starting right guard in 14 games during the1995 season. The following year, he appeared in 16 regular season games, 12 as a starter, as a center and left guard for the1996 Carolina Panthers team that compiled a 12–4 record, won theNFC West, and lost to theGreen Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game.[1] He was dubbed "Lego Man" in 1996 because he started at center and guard and also played some at tackle.[13] In his final NFL season, Elliott appeared in 16 games, six as a starter, as a left guard for the1997 Panthers.[1] While playing for Carolina, Elliott founded Fatguy Charities to raise money for children.[11]
In four NFL seasons, Elliott appeared in 63 games, 34 as a starter, for the Redskins and Panthers.[1] He played longer in the NFL than any prior player to bear the "Mr. Irrelevant" moniker.[11]
After retiring as a player, Elliott coveredNFL Europe onFox Sports and college football games onESPN.[14] As of 2006, Elliott was living inWarsaw, Indiana, with his wife, Kristin. His six-year-old son, Max, was battling leukemia at that time.[11]