Matt Elliott (American football)

Elliott was born in Carmel, Indiana, in 1968. He attended Carmel High School.[1]

Elliott enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1987 and played college football for the Michigan 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 the 1989 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled a 10–2 record and was ranked #7 in the final AP Poll in Bo 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 the 1990 Michigan team that compiled a 9–3 record and was ranked #7 in the final AP Poll.[4] Elliott started the season at left guard, but was moved to center after Steve Everitt broke his foot in Michigan's 45–17 victory over Maryland.[5] Elliott was named the co-MVP of the 1991 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 the 1991 Michigan team that compiled a 10–2 record, won the Big Ten championship, and was ranked #6 in the final AP 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 the Notre 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 the Washington Redskins in the 12th round (336th overall pick) of the 1992 NFL Draft.[10] He was the final selection in the final round of the draft, giving him the designation of Mr. Irrelevant.[11] Despite the moniker, Elliott appeared in 16 games, two as a starter, for the Redskins during the 1992 season.[1] He spent the 1993 season on injured reserve, and he was cut during training camp in 1994.[12]

During the 1994 NFL season, Elliott was unable to sign with another NFL team. Instead, he worked as a sideline reporter covering Washington Redskins games and as a color commentator for high school football games in Loudoun County, Virginia.[12]

In 1995, Elliott attempted a comeback and signed with the Carolina 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 the 1995 season. The following year, he appeared in 16 regular season games, 12 as a starter, as a center and left guard for the 1996 Carolina Panthers team that compiled a 12–4 record, won the NFC West, and lost to the Green 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 the 1997 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 covered NFL Europe on Fox Sports and college football games on ESPN.[14] As of 2006, Elliott was living in Warsaw, Indiana, with his wife, Kristin. His six-year-old son, Max, was battling leukemia at that time.[11]